Vehicle lamp

ABSTRACT

A vehicle lamp is configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern (such as a high-beam light distribution pattern) in which a plurality of irradiation patterns each provided with a non-irradiation region is superimposed. The vehicle lamp prevents an area of a common non-irradiation region from decreasing even if the non-irradiation regions formed in the plurality of respective irradiation patterns are displaced from each other. As a result, glare light is prevented from occurring to an irradiation-prohibited object. In the vehicle lamp configured to form the predetermined light distribution pattern in which the plurality of irradiation patterns each provided with the non-irradiation region is superimposed, the plurality of irradiation patterns is superimposed so that the non-irradiation regions are superimposed to form the common non-irradiation region, and the non-irradiation regions formed in the plurality of respective irradiation patterns have sizes different from each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a vehicle lamp, andmore particularly to a vehicle lamp configured to form a predeterminedlight distribution pattern in which a plurality of irradiation patternseach provided with a non-irradiation region is superimposed.

BACKGROUND ART

FIG. 46A illustrates an example of a high-beam light distributionpattern P_(Hi) formed by a conventional vehicle lamp.

There has been provided a vehicle lamp including irradiation-prohibitedobject detecting means for detecting an irradiation-prohibited object,such as a pedestrian ahead of a vehicle, and an oncoming vehicle, asillustrated in FIG. 46A, the vehicle lamp being configured to form thehigh-beam light distribution pattern P_(Hi) in which a non-irradiationregion is formed in a region (refer to a hatched region A₄ in FIG. 46A,for example) corresponding to the irradiation-prohibited object,detected by the irradiation-prohibited object detecting means (refer toPTL 1, for example).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   {PTL 1} Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-067417

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Unfortunately, the conventional vehicle lamp above has the followingproblem. That is, if the high-beam light distribution pattern P_(Hi) isformed as a composite light distribution pattern in which oneirradiation pattern P1 _(Hi) provided with a non-irradiation region A1 ₄and the other irradiation pattern P2 _(Hi) provided with anon-irradiation region A2 ₄ are superimposed, such as illustrated inFIG. 46B, it is desirable that contours of the non-irradiation regionsAl₄ and A2 ₄ are completely superimposed. However, it is hard toaccurately superimpose the contour of the non-irradiation regions Al₄and A2 ₄, and thus the non-irradiation region A1 ₄ formed in the oneirradiation pattern P1 _(Hi) is displaced from the non-irradiationregion A2 ₄ formed in the other irradiation pattern P2 _(Hi) (refer toFIG. 46B). As a result, an area of a common non-irradiation region AA(refer to a hatched region in FIG. 46B) decreases. Consequently, glarelight to an irradiation-prohibited object may occur.

The presently disclosed subject matter is made in light of theabove-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object of the presentlydisclosed subject matter to provide a vehicle lamp configured to form apredetermined light distribution pattern (such as a high-beam lightdistribution pattern) in which a plurality of irradiation patterns eachprovided with a non-irradiation region is superimposed, the vehicle lamppreventing an area of a common non-irradiation region from decreasing,even if the non-irradiation regions formed in the plurality ofrespective irradiation patterns are displaced from each other, toprevent glare light from occurring to the irradiation-prohibited object.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the object above, the invention in accordance with a firstaspect is a vehicle lamp configured to form a predetermined lightdistribution pattern in which a plurality of irradiation patterns eachprovided with a non-irradiation region is superimposed. In the vehiclelamp, the plurality of irradiation patterns is superimposed so that thenon-irradiation regions are superimposed to form a commonnon-irradiation region, and the non-irradiation regions formed in theplurality of respective irradiation patterns have sizes different fromeach other.

According to the invention in accordance with the first aspect, in avehicle lamp configured to form a predetermined light distributionpattern (such as a high-beam light distribution pattern) in which aplurality of irradiation patterns each provided with a non-irradiationregion is superimposed, an area of a common non-irradiation region canbe prevented from decreasing, even if the non-irradiation regions formedin the plurality of respective irradiation patterns are displaced fromeach other, to prevent glare light from occurring to anirradiation-prohibited object.

This is achieved by the non-irradiation region formed in each of theplurality of irradiation patterns that is not identical in size and isdifferent from each other in size.

In the invention in accordance with the first aspect, the invention inaccordance with a second aspect further includes irradiation-prohibitedobject detecting means for detecting an irradiation-prohibited objectahead of a vehicle. In the second aspect, the non-irradiation region isformed in a region corresponding to the irradiation-prohibited object,detected by the irradiation-prohibited object detecting means, in eachof the plurality of irradiation patterns.

According to the invention in accordance with the second aspect, it ispossible to prevent glare light from occurring to theirradiation-prohibited object ahead of the vehicle, such as a pedestrianand an oncoming vehicle.

In the invention in accordance with the first or second aspect, theinvention in accordance with a third aspect allows the plurality ofrespective irradiation patterns to be different from each other in size,and to have higher light intensity as the size decreases.

According to the invention in accordance with the third aspect, it ispossible to form a predetermined light distribution pattern in whichlight intensity in a part of the pattern is relatively high, anddecreases toward a periphery like gradation, such as a predeterminedlight distribution pattern that is excellent in distant visibility andlight distribution feeling, and that has light intensity that isrelatively high at the center and decreases toward the periphery likegradation.

In the invention in accordance with the third aspect, the invention inaccordance with a fourth aspect allows the non-irradiation region formedin each of the plurality of irradiation patterns to decrease in size asthe irradiation pattern provided with the non-irradiation regiondecreases in size.

According to the invention in accordance with the fourth aspect, thenon-irradiation region with a minimum size is formed in the irradiationpattern with a minimum size as well as a maximum light intensity, andthus a wider region can be brightly irradiated as compared with a casewhere the non-irradiation region with the minimum size is formed in theirradiation pattern other than that with the minimum size.

In addition, according to the invention in accordance with the fourthaspect, the non-irradiation region with the minimum size is formed inthe irradiation pattern with the minimum size as well as the maximumlight intensity, and thus it is possible to relatively increase acontrast ratio near a contour of the common non-irradiation region (thenon-irradiation region with the minimum size) as compared with the casewhere the non-irradiation region with the minimum size is formed in theirradiation pattern other than that with the minimum size. As a result,the contour of the common non-irradiation region can be sharpened.

In the invention in accordance with any one of the first to fourthaspects, the invention in accordance with a fifth aspect allows thenon-irradiation region in each of the plurality of irradiation patternsto have a similar shape.

According to invention in accordance with the fifth aspect, even if thenon-irradiation regions formed in the plurality of respectiveirradiation patterns are displaced from each other in any direction, itis possible to prevent the common non-irradiation region from decreasingin area to prevent glare light from occurring to theirradiation-prohibited object.

In the invention in accordance with any one of the first to fifthaspects, the invention in accordance with a sixth aspect furtherincludes a first lamp unit that is arranged on the left of a vehiclefront to form at least one of the plurality of irradiation patterns, anda second lamp unit that is arranged on the right of the vehicle front toform at least one of the plurality of irradiation patterns.

According to the invention in accordance with the sixth aspect, in thevehicle lamp configured to form a predetermined light distributionpattern in which the at least one irradiation pattern formed by thefirst lamp unit and the at least one irradiation pattern formed by thesecond lamp unit are superimposed, the area of the commonnon-irradiation region can be prevented from decreasing, even if thenon-irradiation regions formed in the plurality of respectiveirradiation patterns are displaced from each other, to prevent glarelight from occurring to the irradiation-prohibited object.

In the invention in accordance with any one of the first to fifthaspects, the invention in accordance with a seventh aspect furtherincludes a plurality of excitation light sources, a plurality of lightpolarizers that is provided corresponding to the plurality of excitationlight sources, and each of which includes a mirror unit thattwo-dimensionally scans an excitation light incident from thecorresponding one of the plurality of excitation light sources in ahorizontal direction and vertical direction, a wavelength converter thatincludes a plurality of scan regions provided corresponding to theplurality of light polarizers, and in which light intensitydistributions corresponding to the plurality of respective irradiationpatterns are formed in the plurality of corresponding scan regions bydrawing a two-dimensional image in the corresponding one of theplurality of scan regions with the excitation light that istwo-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction and verticaldirection by the mirror unit of each of the plurality of lightpolarizers, and an optical system that projects the light intensitydistributions formed in the plurality of respective scan regions to formthe predetermined light distribution pattern.

According to the invention in accordance with the seventh aspect, in thevehicle lamp configured to form the predetermined light distributionpattern (such as the high-beam light distribution pattern) in which theplurality of irradiation patterns each provided with the non-irradiationregion is superimposed, it is possible to reduce the vehicle lamp insize as well as the number of components to be a cause of an increase incost.

This is achieved by using one wavelength converter and one opticalsystem for the plurality of light polarizers instead of using aplurality of wavelength converters (fluorescent substances) and aplurality of optical systems (projection lenses), such as a conventionalvehicle lamp (refer to National Publication of International PatentApplication No. 2013-526759, for example).

In the invention in accordance with the seventh aspect, the invention inaccordance with an eighth aspect includes the plurality of excitationlight sources each of which is a semiconductor light emission elementthat emits the excitation light, or an emission end face of an opticalfiber for emitting the excitation light.

According to the invention in accordance with the eighth aspect, it ispossible to configure the vehicle lamp that uses the semiconductor lightemission element that emits the excitation light, or the emission endface of an optical fiber for emitting the excitation light, as theplurality of excitation light sources. In particular, using the emissionend face of an optical fiber for emitting the excitation light, as theplurality of excitation light sources, enables arranging the excitationlight source that emits the excitation light guided from an incident endface of the optical fiber at a place away from the vehicle lamp (vehiclelamp body). As a result, the vehicle lamp can be further reduced in sizeand weight.

In the invention in accordance with the seventh or eighth aspect, theinvention in accordance with a ninth aspect allows the plurality ofirradiation patterns to include a first irradiation pattern providedwith a first non-irradiation region, a second irradiation patternprovided with a second non-irradiation region, and a third irradiationpattern provided with a third non-irradiation region. The firstirradiation pattern, the second irradiation pattern, and the thirdirradiation pattern are superimposed so that the first non-irradiationregion, the second non-irradiation region, and the third non-irradiationregion are superimposed to form a common non-irradiation region. In theninth aspect, the plurality of light polarizers includes a first lightpolarizer, a second light polarizer, and a third light polarizer, andthe plurality of scan regions includes a first scan region, a secondscan region that is smaller than the first scan region in size and thatis superimposed on the first scan region, and a third scan region thatis smaller than the second scan region in size and that is superimposedon the second scan region. The first light polarizer forms a first lightintensity distribution corresponding to the first irradiation pattern inthe first scan region by drawing a first two-dimensional image in thefirst scan region with the excitation light that is two-dimensionallyscanned in the horizontal direction and vertical direction by the mirrorunit of the first light polarizer. The second light polarizer forms asecond light intensity distribution higher than the first lightintensity distribution in light intensity, corresponding to the secondirradiation pattern, in the second scan region by drawing a secondtwo-dimensional image in the second scan region, while the secondtwo-dimensional image overlaps with the first two-dimensional image,with the excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned in thehorizontal direction and vertical direction by the mirror unit of thesecond light polarizer. The third light polarizer forms a third lightintensity distribution higher than the second light intensitydistribution in light intensity, corresponding to the third irradiationpattern, in the third scan region by drawing a third two-dimensionalimage in the third scan region, while the third two-dimensional imageoverlaps with the first and second two-dimensional images, with theexcitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontaldirection and vertical direction by the mirror unit of the third lightpolarizer.

According to the invention in accordance with the ninth aspect, it ispossible to form a predetermined light distribution pattern in whichlight intensity in a part of the pattern is relatively high, anddecreases toward a periphery like gradation, such as a predeterminedlight distribution pattern that is excellent in distant visibility andlight distribution feeling, and that has light intensity that isrelatively high at the center and decreases toward the periphery likegradation.

This is achieved by the following: the second scan region is smallerthan the first scan region in size as well as is superimposed on thefirst scan region, and the third scan region is smaller than the secondscan region in size as well as is superimposed on the second scanregion; consequently, the first light intensity distribution formed inthe first scan region, the second light intensity distribution formed inthe second scan region, and the third light intensity distributionformed in the third scan region, increase in light intensity as well asdecreases in size in the order described; and the predetermined lightdistribution pattern is formed by projecting the first light intensitydistribution corresponding to the first irradiation pattern, the secondlight intensity distribution corresponding to the second irradiationpattern, and the third light intensity distribution corresponding to thethird irradiation pattern, respectively, in the first scan region, thesecond scan region, and the third scan region.

In the invention in accordance with any one of the seventh to ninthaspects, the invention in accordance with a tenth aspect allows theoptical system, the wavelength converter, and the plurality of lightpolarizers, to be arranged along a reference axis, in the orderdescribed. In the tenth aspect, the plurality of excitation lightsources are arranged so as to surround the reference axis in an inclinedposture to allow the excitation light of each of the excitation lightsources to travel backward as well as toward the reference axis, and theplurality of light polarizers is arranged closer to the reference axisthan the plurality of excitation light sources, as well as is arrangedso as to surround the reference axis, to allow the mirror unit of eachof the light polarizers to receive an excitation light from thecorresponding one of the plurality of excitation light sources, as wellas to allow the excitation light as a reflected light from the mirrorunit to travel to the corresponding one of the plurality of scanregions.

According to the invention in accordance with the tenth aspect, in thevehicle lamp configured to form the predetermined light distributionpattern (such as the high-beam light distribution pattern) in which theplurality of irradiation patterns each provided with the non-irradiationregion is superimposed, it is possible to reduce the vehicle lamp insize as well as the number of components to be a cause of an increase incost.

In the invention in accordance with any one of the seventh to ninthaspects, the invention in accordance with a eleventh aspect furtherincludes a plurality of reflection surfaces provided corresponding tothe plurality of excitation. In the tenth aspect, the optical system,the wavelength converter, and the plurality of light polarizers, arearranged along reference axis, in the order described, and the pluralityof excitation light sources are arranged so as to surround the referenceaxis in an inclined posture to allow the excitation light of each of theexcitation light sources to travel forward as well as toward thereference axis. In addition, the plurality of reflection surfaces isarranged closer to the reference axis than the plurality of excitationlight sources, as well as is arranged so as to surround the referenceaxis in an inclined posture to allow each of the plurality of reflectionsurfaces to receive an excitation light from the corresponding one ofthe plurality of excitation light sources, as well as allow theexcitation light as a reflected light from each of the reflectionsurfaces to travel backward as well as toward the reference axis, andthe plurality of light polarizers is arranged closer to the referenceaxis than the plurality of reflection surfaces, as well as is arrangedso as to surround the reference axis to allow the mirror unit of each ofthe light polarizers to receive the excitation light as a reflectedlight from the corresponding one of the plurality of reflectionsurfaces, as well as allow the excitation light as the reflected lightfrom the mirror unit of each of the light polarizers to travel to thecorresponding one of the plurality of scan regions.

According to the invention in accordance with the eleventh aspect, inthe vehicle lamp configured to form the predetermined light distributionpattern (such as the high-beam light distribution pattern) in which theplurality of irradiation patterns each provided with the non-irradiationregion is superimposed, it is possible to reduce the vehicle lamp insize as well as the number of components to be a cause of an increase incost.

In the invention in accordance with any one of the seventh to eleventhaspects, the invention in accordance with a twelfth aspect allows theoptical system to be a projection lens. The projection lens isconfigured to have a plurality of lenses in which aberration iscorrected to allow an image surface to be flat. In the twelfth aspect,the wavelength converter is formed in the shape of a flat plate and isarranged along the image surface.

According to the invention in accordance with the twelfth aspect, it ispossible to eliminate influence of the aberration on the predeterminedlight distribution pattern. The wavelength converter being the shape ofa flat plate facilitates its manufacture as compared with a wavelengthconverter being the shape of a curved surface. In addition, thewavelength converter being the shape of a flat plate facilitates drawingof a two-dimensional image as compared with the wavelength converterbeing the shape of a curved surface.

In the invention in accordance with any one of the seventh to twelfthaspects, the invention in accordance with a thirteenth aspect allowseach of the plurality of light polarizers to be configured as a lightpolarizer of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type that includesthe mirror unit, a movable frame that is arranged so as to surround themirror unit and that supports the mirror unit so that the mirror unitcan oscillate around a first shaft, a base that is arranged so as tosurround the movable frame and that supports the movable frame so thatthe movable frame can oscillate around a second shaft orthogonal to thefirst shaft, a first piezoelectric actuator that oscillates the mirrorunit around the first shaft with respect to the movable frame by usingresonant drive, and a second piezoelectric actuator that oscillates themovable frame and the mirror unit supported by the movable frame, aroundthe second shaft with respect to the base, by using nonresonant drive.In the thirteenth aspect, each of the plurality of light polarizers isarranged so that the first shaft is included in a vertical plane and thesecond shaft is included in a horizontal plane.

According to the invention in accordance with the thirteenth aspect,arranging each of the light polarizers as described in the thirteenthaspect enables a predetermined light distribution pattern(two-dimensional image corresponding to the predetermined lightdistribution pattern) that is wide in the horizontal direction andnarrow in the vertical direction and is required for the vehicleheadlamp, to be easily formed (drawn).

In the invention in accordance with any one of the seventh to thirteenthaspects, the invention in accordance with a fourteenth aspect allows adistance between each of the plurality of light polarizers and thewavelength converter to be identical.

According to the invention in accordance with the fourteenth aspect,changing a range of oscillation around the first shaft of the mirrorunit of each of the light polarizers and a range of oscillation aroundthe second shaft thereof enables the scan regions (the two-dimensionalimages) to be different from each other in size.

In the invention in accordance with any one of the seventh to thirteenthaspects, the invention in accordance with a fifteenth aspect allows adistance between each of the plurality of light polarizers and thewavelength converter to be different.

According to the invention in accordance with the fifteenth aspect,changing a distance between each of the light polarizers (the center ofthe mirror unit) and the wavelength converter enables the scan regions(the two-dimensional images) to be different from each other in size.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the presently disclosed subject matter, in a vehicle lampconfigured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern (such as ahigh-beam light distribution pattern) in which a plurality ofirradiation patterns each provided with a non-irradiation region issuperimposed, an area of a common non-irradiation region can beprevented from decreasing, even if the non-irradiation regions formed inthe plurality of respective irradiation patterns are displaced from eachother, to prevent glare light from occurring to anirradiation-prohibited object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle lamp 10 of a firstembodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a variation of the vehicle lamp 10.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a light polarizer 201 of a uniaxialnonresonant/uniaxial resonant type.

FIG. 4A illustrates a state where no voltage is applied to firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204.

FIG. 4B illustrates a state where voltage is applied to the firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204.

FIG. 5A illustrates a state where no voltage is applied to secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206.

FIG. 5B illustrates a state where voltage is applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206.

FIG. 6A illustrates a maximum angle of oscillation around a first shaftX1 of a mirror unit 202.

FIG. 6B illustrates a maximum angle of oscillation around a second shaftX2 of the mirror unit 202.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a test system.

FIG. 8 is a graph in which experiment results (measurement results) areplotted.

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an oscillationangle of the mirror unit 202 and a frequency.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a configuration of a control systemfor controlling an excitation light source 12 and the light polarizer201.

FIG. 11 includes an upper section that illustrates a state where theexcitation light source 12 (laser beam) is modulated at a modulationfrequency f_(L) of 25 MHz in synchronization with oscillation of themirror unit 202, a middle section that illustrates a state where firstand second alternating voltage (such as a sine wave of 25 MHz) isapplied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, and a lowersection that illustrates a state where third alternating voltage (suchas a sawtooth wave of 55 Hz) is applied to the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206.

FIG. 12A illustrates a detail of the first and second alternatingvoltage (such as a sine wave of 25 MHz) applied to the firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, an output pattern of the excitationlight source 12 (laser beam), and the like.

FIG. 12B illustrates a detail of the third alternating voltage (such asa sawtooth wave of 55 Hz) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators205 and 206, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laserbeam), and the like.

FIG. 13A illustrates an example of a scan pattern of a laser beam (spot)that is two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the verticaldirection) scanned by the light polarizer 201.

FIG. 13B illustrates another example of the scan pattern of the laserbeam (spot) that is two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction andthe vertical direction) scanned by the light polarizer 201.

FIG. 13C illustrates yet another example of the scan pattern of thelaser beam (spot) that is two-dimensionally (in the horizontal directionand the vertical direction) scanned by the light polarizer 201.

FIG. 14A illustrates an example of a vertical scan pattern of the laserbeam (spot) that is two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction andthe vertical direction) scanned by the light polarizer 201.

FIG. 14B illustrates another example of the vertical scan pattern of thelaser beam (spot) that is two-dimensionally (in the horizontal directionand the vertical direction) scanned by the light polarizer 201.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a light polarizer 161 of a biaxialnonresonant type.

FIG. 16A illustrates a detail of the first alternating voltage (such asa sawtooth wave of 6 kHz) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators163 and 164, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laserbeam), and the like.

FIG. 16B illustrates a detail of the third alternating voltage (such asa sawtooth wave of 60 Hz) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators165 and 166, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laserbeam), and the like.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a light polarizer 201A of a biaxial resonanttype.

FIG. 18A illustrates a detail of the first alternating voltage (such asa sine wave of 24 kHz) applied to first piezoelectric actuators 15 a and15 b, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser beam),and the like.

FIG. 18B illustrates a detail of the third alternating voltage (such asa sine wave of 12 Hz) applied to second piezoelectric actuators 17 a and17 b, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser beam),and the like.

FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating a relationship among a temperaturechange, a resonant frequency, and a mechanical oscillation angle (halfangle) around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a vehicle lamp 300 of a second embodimentof the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the vehicle lamp 300.

FIG. 22 is a front view of the vehicle lamp 300.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the vehicle lamp 300 illustrated in FIG.22 taken along the line 23-23.

FIG. 24 is a sectional perspective view of the vehicle lamp 300illustrated in FIG. 23 taken along the line 23-23.

FIG. 25 illustrates an example of a predetermined light distributionpattern P that is to be formed on a virtual vertical screen facing avehicle front face (arranged about 25 m ahead of the vehicle front face)by the vehicle lamp 300 of the present embodiment.

FIG. 26 includes a portion (a) that is a front view of a wavelengthconverter 18, a portion (b) that is a top view thereof, and a portion(c) that is a side view thereof.

FIG. 27A is a graph illustrating a relationship between a mechanicaloscillation angle (half angle) of the mirror unit 202 around the firstshaft X1 and driving voltage applied to the first piezoelectricactuators 203 and 204.

FIG. 27B is a graph illustrating a relationship between a mechanicaloscillation angle (half angle) of the mirror unit 202 around the secondshaft X2 and driving voltage applied to the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206.

FIG. 28A is a table that summarizes conditions, etc., to be satisfied tochange scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot), in size if adistance between each of light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and201 _(Hot) (the center of the mirror unit 202), and the wavelengthconverter 18, is identical or substantially identical.

FIG. 28B is a table that summarizes other conditions, etc., to besatisfied to change scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot), in sizeif a distance between each of light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid),and 201 _(Hot) (the center of the mirror unit 202), and the wavelengthconverter 18, is identical or substantially identical.

FIG. 29A is an illustration for describing “L” and “βh_max” described inFIG. 28A.

FIG. 29B is an illustration for describing “S”, “βv_max”, and “L”,described in FIG. 28B.

FIG. 30 illustrates an example of changing a distance between each ofthe light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) (the centerof the mirror unit 202) and the wavelength converter 18.

FIG. 31A is a table that summarizes conditions, etc., to be satisfied tochange scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot), in size if drivingvoltage applied to each of the light polarizer 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid),and 201 _(Hot) is identical or substantially identical.

FIG. 31B is a table that summarizes other conditions, etc., to besatisfied to change scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot), in sizeif driving voltage applied to each of the light polarizer 201 _(Wide),201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) is identical or substantially identical.

FIG. 32 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variation of the vehiclelamp 300.

FIG. 33 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle lamp 400 of athird embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 34 is a sectional perspective view of the vehicle lamp 400illustrated in FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a longitudinal sectional view of another variation of thevehicle lamp 300.

FIG. 36 illustrates an example of internal structure of a lightdistributor 68.

FIG. 37A illustrates an example of a light intensity distribution inwhich light intensity is relatively high in a region B1 near the center.

FIG. 37B illustrates an example of a driving signal (sine wave) to formthe light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 37A.

FIG. 37C illustrates an example of a driving signal (a sawtooth wave ora rectangular wave), including a nonlinear region, to form the lightintensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 37A.

FIG. 38A illustrates an example of the light intensity distribution(reference example).

FIG. 38B illustrates an example of a driving signal (sine wave) to formthe light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 38A.

FIG. 38C illustrates an example of a driving signal (a sawtooth wave ora rectangular wave), including a linear region, to form the lightintensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 38A.

FIG. 39 illustrates an example of the light intensity distribution inwhich the light intensity is relatively high in a region B2 near a side“e” corresponding to a cutoff line.

FIG. 40A illustrates an example of the light intensity distribution inwhich the light intensity is relatively high in regions B1 and B3 nearthe center.

FIG. 40B illustrates an example of a driving signal (a sawtooth wave ora rectangular wave), including a nonlinear region, to form the lightintensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 40A.

FIG. 40C illustrates another example of a driving signal (a sawtoothwave or a rectangular wave), including a nonlinear region, to form thelight intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 40A.

FIG. 41A illustrates an example of the light intensity distribution(reference example).

FIG. 41B illustrates an example of a driving signal (a sawtooth wave ora rectangular wave), including a linear region, to form the lightintensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 41A.

FIG. 41C illustrates another example of a driving signal (a sawtoothwave or a rectangular wave), including a linear region, to form thelight intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 41A.

FIG. 42A illustrates an example of the light intensity distribution(reference example).

FIG. 42B illustrates an example of a driving signal (sine wave) to formthe light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 42A.

FIG. 42C illustrates another example of a driving signal (sine wave) toform the light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 42A.

FIG. 43A illustrates an example of an irradiation pattern P_(Hot)provided with a non-irradiation region C1.

FIG. 43B illustrates an example of an irradiation pattern P_(Mid)provided with a non-irradiation region C2.

FIG. 43C illustrates an example of an irradiation pattern P_(Wide)provided with a non-irradiation region C3.

FIG. 43D illustrates an example of a high-beam light distributionpattern in which a plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid),and P_(Wide) is superimposed.

FIG. 44 illustrates a state where the non-irradiation regions C1, C2,and C3 are displaced from each other.

FIG. 45A illustrates an example of a high-beam light distributionpattern PL_(Hi) formed by a vehicle lamp 300L arranged on a left side ofa vehicle front (left side facing ahead of the vehicle).

FIG. 45B illustrates an example of a high-beam light distributionpattern PR_(Hi) formed by a vehicle lamp 300R arranged on a right sideof the vehicle front (right side facing ahead of the vehicle).

FIG. 45C illustrates an example of the high-beam light distributionpattern P_(Hi) in which the two high-beam light distribution patternsPL_(Hi) and PR_(Hi) are superimposed.

FIG. 46A illustrates an example of a high-beam light distributionpattern formed by a conventional vehicle lamp.

FIG. 46B illustrates a state where the non-irradiation regions A1 ₄ andA2 ₄ are displaced from each other.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle lamp of a first embodiment of the presently disclosed subjectmatter will be described below with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle lamp 10 of thefirst embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vehicle lamp 10 of the present embodimentis configured as a vehicle headlamp that includes an excitation lightsource 12, a light polarizer 201 that two-dimensionally (in a horizontaldirection and vertical direction) scans an excitation light Ray from anexcitation light source 12, the excitation light ray being condensedthrough a condenser lens 14, a wavelength converter 18 in which atwo-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined lightdistribution pattern is drawn with the excitation light Ray that istwo-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and vertical direction)scanned by the light polarizer 201, a projection lens 20 that projectsthe two-dimensional image drawn in the wavelength converter 18 forward.

The light polarizer 201, wavelength converter 18, and projection lens20, as illustrated in FIG. 1, are arranged so that the excitation lightRay from excitation light source 12 that is two-dimensionally (in thehorizontal direction and vertical direction) scanned by the lightpolarizer 201 is transmitted from a rear face 18 a of the wavelengthconverter 18 to a front face 18 b thereof. That is, the light polarizer201 is arranged at behind the wavelength converter 18, and theprojection lens 20 is arranged in front of the wavelength converter 18.This kind of arrangement is called a transmission type. In this case,the excitation light source 12 may be arranged at either behind or infront of the wavelength converter 18. In FIG. 1, although the projectionlens 20 is configured as a projection lens composed of a group of fourlenses 20A to 20D, the projection lens 20 may be configured as aprojection lens composed of one aspherical lens.

The light polarizer 201, wavelength converter 18, and projection lens20, as illustrated in FIG. 2, may be arranged so that the excitationlight Ray from excitation light source 12 that is two-dimensionally (inthe horizontal direction and vertical direction) scanned by the lightpolarizer 201 enters the front face 18 b of the wavelength converter 18.That is, both of the light polarizer 201 and projection lens 20 may bearranged in front of the wavelength converter 18. This kind ofarrangement is called a reflection type. In this case, the excitationlight source 12 may be arranged at either behind or in front of thewavelength converter 18. The arrangement of the reflection typeillustrated in FIG. 2 has an advantage in that the vehicle lamp 10 canbe shortened in length in a direction of a reference axis AX thereof ascompared with the arrangement of the transmission type illustrated inFIG. 1. In FIG. 2, although the projection lens 20 is configured as aprojection lens composed of one aspherical lens, the projection lens 20may be configured as a projection lens composed of a group of aplurality of lenses.

The excitation light source 12, for example, is a semiconductor lightemission element such as a laser diode (LD) that emits a laser beam in ablue region (such as 450 nm of a light emission wavelength) as theexcitation light. The excitation light source 12 may be a semiconductorlight emission element such as a laser diode (LD) that emits a laserbeam in a near-ultraviolet region (such as 405 nm of a light emissionwavelength). The excitation light source 12 may be also a light emittingdiode (LED). The excitation light from the excitation light source 12 iscondensed (collimated, for example) through the condenser lens 14 to beincident on the light polarizer 201 (mirror unit).

The wavelength converter 18 is a plate-shaped (or layered-shaped)wavelength converter with an outline in the shape of a rectangle. Thewavelength converter 18 receives a laser beam that is two-dimensionally(in the horizontal direction and vertical direction) scanned by thelight polarizer 201, as the excitation light, and converts at least apart of the laser beam to light with a different wavelength. In FIG. 1,the wavelength converter 18 is fixed to a frame body 22 in its peripheryalong an outline of rear face 18 a, and is arranged near a focus F ofthe projection lens 20. In FIG. 2, the wavelength converter 18 is fixedto a support 46 in its rear face 18 a, and is arranged near the focus Fof the projection lens 20.

For example, when the laser diode (LD) that emits a laser beam in theblue region is used as the excitation light source 12, the wavelengthconverter 18 employs a plate-shaped (or layered-shaped) phosphor with anoutline in the shape of a rectangle that emits yellow light by beingexcited by the laser beam in the blue region. In the wavelengthconverter 18, a two-dimensional image corresponding to the predeterminedlight distribution pattern is drawn as a white image with the laser beamin the blue region, being two-dimensionally (in the horizontal directionand vertical direction) scanned by the light polarizer 201. Thetwo-dimensional image is drawn as the white image because when thewavelength converter 18 is irradiated with a laser beam in the blueregion, the wavelength converter 18 emits white light (pseudo whitelight) composed of mixed color of the laser beam in the blue region,transmitting (passing through) the wavelength converter 18, and light(yellow light) emitted by using the laser beam in the blue region.

Meanwhile, when the laser diode (LD) that emits a laser beam in thenear-ultraviolet region is used as the excitation light source 12, thewavelength converter 18 employs a plate-shaped (or layered-shaped)phosphor with an outline in the shape of a rectangle that emits light ofthree colors, red, green, and blue by being excited by the laser beam inthe near-ultraviolet region. In the wavelength converter 18, atwo-dimensional image corresponding to the predetermined lightdistribution pattern is drawn as a white image with the laser beam inthe near-ultraviolet region, being two-dimensionally (in the horizontaldirection and vertical direction) scanned by the light polarizer 201.The two-dimensional image is drawn as the white image because whenirradiated with a laser beam in the near-ultraviolet region, thewavelength converter 18 emits white light (pseudo white light) composedof mixed color of light (light of three colors, red, green, and blue)emitted by using the laser beam in the near-ultraviolet region.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the projection lens 20 is configured as aprojection lens composed of the group of the four lenses 20A to 20D inwhich aberration (image surface curvature) as well as chromaticaberration is corrected to allow an image surface to be flat. In thiscase, the wavelength converter 18 in the shape of a flat plate is usedand arranged along the image surface (flat surface). The focus F of theprojection lens 20 is positioned near the wavelength converter 18. Theprojection lens 20 can eliminate influence of the aberration on thepredetermined light distribution pattern as compared with a case ofusing one convex lens. The wavelength converter 18 being the shape of aflat plate facilitates its manufacture as compared with the wavelengthconverter 18 being the shape of a curved surface. In addition, thewavelength converter 18 being the shape of a flat plate facilitatesdrawing of a two-dimensional image as compared with the wavelengthconverter 18 being the shape of a curved surface.

The projection lens 20 may be configured as a projection lens composedof one aspherical lens in which aberration (image surface curvature) isnot corrected to allow an image surface to be flat. In this case, thewavelength converter 18 with a curved shape corresponding to the imagesurface curvature is used and arranged along the image surfacecurvature. The focus F of the projection lens 20 is positioned near thewavelength converter 18.

The projection lens 20 projects a two-dimensional image corresponding tothe predetermined light distribution pattern drawn in the wavelengthconverter 18 forward to form the predetermined light distributionpattern (such as a low-beam light distribution pattern and a high-beamlight distribution pattern) on a virtual vertical screen facing thevehicle lamp 10 (arranged about 25 m ahead of the vehicle lamp 10).

The light polarizer 201 two-dimensionally (in the horizontal directionand vertical direction) scans the excitation light Ray from theexcitation light source 12, being condensed (collimated, for example)through the condenser lens 14.

The light polarizer 201, for example, is a micro electro mechanicalsystems (MEMS) scanner. Although a drive method of the light polarizerbroadly includes a piezoelectric method, an electrostatic method, and anelectromagnetic method, any one of the methods is available. In thepresent embodiment, a light polarizer of the piezoelectric method willbe representatively described.

Although the piezoelectric method broadly includes a uniaxialnonresonant/uniaxial resonant type, a biaxial nonresonant type, and abiaxial resonant type, any one of the methods is available.

First, the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxialresonant type will be described.

(Uniaxial Nonresonant/Uniaxial Resonant Type)

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxialnonresonant/uniaxial resonant type.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxialnonresonant/uniaxial resonant type includes a mirror unit 202 (alsocalled an MEMS mirror), first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 thatdrive the mirror unit 202 through torsion bars 211 a and 211 b, amovable frame 212 that supports the first piezoelectric actuators 203and 204, second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 that drive themovable frame 212, and a base 215 that supports the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206.

The mirror unit 202 has a circular shape and opposite ends to which thecorresponding torsion bars 211 a and 211 b extending outward arecoupled. The first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 in the shape of asemi-circle are arranged at an interval so as to surround the mirrorunit 202. The first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 are coupled toeach other at corresponding one of opposite ends of the actuators acrossone torsion bar 211 a as well as at the corresponding other ends acrossthe other torsion bar 211 b, while facing each other. The outside of acenter position of the semi-circle of each of the first piezoelectricactuators 203 and 204 is coupled to the movable frame 212 provided so asto surround the mirror unit 202 and the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204, and is supported.

The movable frame 212 has a rectangular shape, includes a pair ofopposite ends in a direction orthogonal to the torsion bars 211 a and211 b, the opposite ends being coupled to the corresponding leading endsof the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, facing each otheracross the movable frame 212. The second piezoelectric actuators 205 and206 each include a base end that is coupled to a support base end 214 ofthe base 215 provided so as to surround the movable frame 212 and thesecond piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, and that is supported.

As illustrated FIG. 4A, the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204includes corresponding one of piezoelectric cantilevers that havesupports 203 a and 204 a, lower electrodes 203 b and 204 b,piezoelectric bodies 203 c and 204 c, and upper electrodes 203 d and 204d, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206includes six piezoelectric cantilevers 205A to 205F and sixpiezoelectric cantilevers 206A to 206F, respectively. In each of the sixpiezoelectric cantilevers, the piezoelectric cantilevers are coupled toeach other so as to be folded back at each of ends of the piezoelectriccantilevers, thereby constituting a piezoelectric actuator like bellowsas a whole. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers 205A to 205F, and eachof the piezoelectric cantilevers 206A to 206F, have the same structureas that of each of the piezoelectric cantilevers provided in therespective first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204.

Next, movement (oscillation around the first shaft X1) of the mirrorunit 202 will be described.

Each of FIGS. 4A and 4B is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4A illustrates a state where no voltage isapplied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, and FIG. 4Billustrates a state where voltage is applied thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, when voltage ±Vd with a polarity opposite toeach other applied between the upper electrode 203 d and 204 d, and thecorresponding lower electrodes 203 b and 204 b, in the respective firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, to drive the first piezoelectricactuators, the first piezoelectric actuators are bent and deformed in adirection opposite to each other. This bend and deformation allow thetorsion bar 211 b to turn as illustrated in FIG. 4B. The same applies tothe torsion bar 211 a. The mirror unit 202 oscillates around the firstshaft X1 with respect to the movable frame 212 in accordance withturning of the torsion bars 211 a and 211 b.

Subsequently, movement (oscillation around the second shaft X2) of themirror unit 202 will be described.

FIG. 5A illustrates a state where no voltage is applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, and FIG. 5B illustrates a statewhere voltage is applied thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, applying voltage to the second piezoelectricactuator 206 allows odd-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 206A, 206C,and 206E from the movable frame 212 to be bent and deformed upward, aswell as even-numbered piezoelectric cantilevers 206B, 206D, and 206F tobe bent and deformed downward. Accordingly, angle displacementcorresponding to an added amount of bent deformation of each of thepiezoelectric cantilevers 206A to 206F occurs. The same applies to thesecond piezoelectric actuator 205. The angle displacement allows themovable frame 212 (and the mirror unit 202 supported thereby) to turnaround the second shaft X2 orthogonal to the first shaft X1 with respectto the base 215. The first shaft X1 and the second shaft X2 areorthogonal to each other at the center of the mirror unit 202 (thecenter of gravity).

A mirror unit support of the mirror unit 202, a support of the torsionbars 211 a and 211 b as well as the first piezoelectric actuators 203and 204, a support of the movable frame 212 as well as the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, and the support base end 214 on thebase 215 are integrally formed into one support by shaping a siliconplate. The base 215 is also formed of the silicon plate, and is formedintegrally with the one support by shaping the silicon plate. A methodof shaping a silicon plate in this way is described in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2008-040240 in detail, for example. The mirrorunit 202 and the movable frame 212 are provided at an interval, and thusthe mirror unit 202 can oscillate around the first shaft X1 to apredetermined angle with respect to the movable frame 212. In addition,the movable frame 212 and the base 215 are provided at an interval, andthus the movable frame 212 (and the mirror unit 202 supported thereby)can oscillate around the second shaft X2 to a predetermined angle withrespect to the base 215.

The light polarizer 201 includes electrode sets 207 and 208 to applydriving voltage to the respective piezoelectric actuators 203 to 206.

The electrode set 207 includes: an upper electrode pad 207 a forapplying driving voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator 203; afirst upper electrode pad 207 b for applying driving voltage to theodd-numbered piezoelectric cantilever 205A, 205C, and 205E from aleading end of the second piezoelectric actuator 205; a second upperelectrode pad 207 c for applying driving voltage to the even-numberedpiezoelectric cantilever 205B, 205D, and 205F from the leading end ofthe second piezoelectric actuator 205; and a common lower electrode 207d that is used as a common lower electrode of the upper electrode pads207 a to 207 c.

Likewise, the electrode set 208 includes: an upper electrode pad 208 afor applying driving voltage to the first piezoelectric actuator 204; afirst upper electrode pad 208 b for applying driving voltage to theodd-numbered piezoelectric cantilever 206A, 206C, and 206E from theleading end of the second piezoelectric actuator 206; a second upperelectrode pad 208 c for applying driving voltage to the even-numberedpiezoelectric cantilever 206B, 206D, and 206F from the leading end ofthe second piezoelectric actuator 206; and a common lower electrode 208d that is used as a common lower electrode of the three upper electrodepads 208 a to 208 c.

In the present embodiment, first alternating voltage is applied to thefirst piezoelectric actuator 203 as driving voltage, and secondalternating voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator 204as driving voltage. The first alternating voltage and the secondalternating voltage have phases opposite to each other, or phasesshifted from each other (a sine wave, for example). At the time,alternating voltage with a frequency near a mechanical resonantfrequency (a first resonant point) of the mirror unit 202 including thetorsion bars 211 a and 211 b is applied to the first piezoelectricactuators 203 and 204 to resonantly drive them. This allows the mirrorunit 202 to oscillate around the first shaft X1 with respect to themovable frame 212 to scan a laser beam, as excitation light incident onthe mirror unit 202 from the excitation light source 12, in a firstdirection (horizontal direction, for example).

Then, third alternating voltage is applied to each of the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 as driving voltage. At the time,alternating voltage with a frequency a frequency equal to or less than apredetermined value less than a mechanical resonant frequency (a firstresonant point) of the movable frame 212 including the mirror unit 202,the torsion bars 211 a and 211 b, and the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204, is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and206 to non-resonantly drive them. This allows the mirror unit 202 tooscillate around the second shaft X2 with respect to the base 215 toscan a laser beam, as excitation light incident on the mirror unit 202from the excitation light source 12, in a second direction (verticaldirection, for example).

The light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant typeis arranged while the first shaft X1 is included in a vertical plane aswell as the second shaft X2 is included in a horizontal plane. Arrangingthe light polarizer 201 in this way enables a predetermined lightdistribution pattern (two-dimensional image corresponding to thepredetermined light distribution pattern) that is wide in the horizontaldirection and narrow in the vertical direction and is required for thevehicle headlamp, to be easily formed (drawn). A reason for that will bedescribed below.

In the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonanttype, a maximum oscillation angle around the first shaft X1 of themirror unit 202 is more than a maximum oscillation angle around thesecond shaft X2 of the mirror unit 202. For example, the oscillationaround the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 is caused by resonantdrive, and thus the maximum oscillation angle around the first shaft X1of the mirror unit 202 is from 10 to 20 degrees as illustrated in FIG.6A. In contrast, the oscillation around the second shaft X2 of themirror unit 202 is caused by nonresonant drive, and thus the maximumoscillation angle around the second shaft X2 of the mirror unit 202 isabout 7 degrees as illustrated in FIG. 6B. As a result, arranging thelight polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type asdescribed above enables the predetermined light distribution pattern(two-dimensional image corresponding to the predetermined lightdistribution pattern) that is wide in the horizontal direction andnarrow in the vertical direction and is required for the vehicleheadlamp, to be easily formed (drawn).

As above, driving each of the piezoelectric actuators 203 to 206 allowsthe laser beam as the excitation light from the excitation light source12 to be two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and verticaldirection) scanned.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the light polarizer 201 includes an H-sensor220 arranged at a base of the torsion bar 211 a, on a mirror unit 202side, and a V-sensor 222 arranged on a base end side (such as thepiezoelectric cantilevers 205F and 206F) of the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206.

The H-sensor 220 is a piezoelectric element (PZT: lead zirconatetitanate), which is the same as the piezoelectric cantilevers providedin the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, and generates voltagein accordance with bent deformation (displacement) of the firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204. The V-sensor 222 is a piezoelectricelement (PZT), which is the same as the piezoelectric cantileversprovided in the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, andgenerates voltage in accordance with bent deformation (displacement) ofthe second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206.

In the light polarizer 201, a mechanical oscillation angle (half angle)around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 changes in accordancewith change in natural frequency of material constituting the lightpolarizer 201 due to temperature change, as illustrated in FIG. 19. Thischange can be reduced as follows. For example, controlling frequency ofthe first alternating voltage and the second alternating voltage, to beapplied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 (or the firstalternating voltage and the second alternating voltage themselves), byfeedback control, on the basis of a driving signal (the firstalternating voltage and the second alternating voltage, applied to thefirst piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204), and a sensor signal (outputof the H-sensor 220), allows a mechanical oscillation angle (half angle)around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 to be a target value,and thus the change can be reduced.

Subsequently, there will be described a desirable frequency of the firstalternating voltage and the second alternating voltage, to be applied tothe first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, as well as a desirablefrequency of the third alternating voltage to be applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuator 205 and 206, which has been studied by theinventors of the present application.

The inventors of the present application have performed experiments andstudied results of the experiments to reach a conclusion that afrequency of about 4 to 30 kHz (sine wave) is desirable, and a frequencyof 27±3 kHz (sine wave) is more desirable, as a frequency (hereinafterreferred to as a horizontal scan frequency f_(H)) of each of the firstalternating voltage and the second alternating voltage, to be applied tothe first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 in the light polarizer 201of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type configured as above.

The inventors of the present application also have reached a conclusionthat a horizontal resolution (pixel number) of 300 lines (or more) isdesirable to enable a vehicle lamp to be turned on or off (lighting ornon-lighting) by 0.1 degree (or less) in the horizontal direction withina range from 15 degrees left from a vertical axis V and to 15 degreesright therefrom in consideration of a high-beam light distributionpattern.

In addition, the inventors of the present application have performedexperiments and studied results of the experiments to reach a conclusionthat a frequency of 55 Hz or more (sawtooth wave) is desirable, and afrequency of 55 Hz to 120 Hz (sawtooth wave) is more desirable, afrequency of 55 Hz to 100 Hz (sawtooth wave) is furthermore desirable,particularly a frequency of 70±10 Hz (sawtooth wave) is desirable, as afrequency (hereinafter referred to as a vertical scan frequency f_(V))of the third alternating voltage to be applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in the light polarizer 201 of auniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type configured as above.

In consideration of a predetermined normal traveling speed (such as 0 to150 km per hour), there has been reached a conclusion that a frequencyof 50 Hz or more (sawtooth wave) is desirable, a frequency of 50 Hz to120 Hz (sawtooth wave) is more desirable, and a frequency of 50 Hz to100 Hz (sawtooth wave) is furthermore desirable, particularly afrequency of 70±10 Hz (sawtooth wave) is desirable, as a frequency(vertical scan frequency f_(V)) of the third alternating voltage to beapplied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. A frame ratedepends on the vertical scan frequency f_(V), and thus the frame rate is70 fps if the vertical scan frequency f_(V) is 70 Hz.

A vertical scan frequency f_(V) of 55 Hz or more allows thepredetermined light distribution pattern to be formed on the virtualvertical screen as an image (may be also called a moving image or avideo) with a frame rate of 55 fps or more. Likewise, a vertical scanfrequency f_(V) of 55 to 120 Hz allows the predetermined lightdistribution pattern to be formed on the virtual vertical screen as animage (may be also called a moving image or a video) with a frame rateof 55 fps or more and 120 fps or less, a vertical scan frequency f_(V)of 55 to 100 Hz allows the predetermined light distribution pattern tobe formed on the virtual vertical screen as an image (may be also calleda moving image or a video) with a frame rate of 55 fps or more and 100fps or less, and a vertical scan frequency f_(V) of 70±10 Hz allows thepredetermined light distribution pattern to be formed on the virtualvertical screen as an image (may be also called a moving image or avideo) with a frame rate of 70±10 fps. The same applies to vertical scanfrequencies fV of 50 Hz or more, 50 Hz to 120 Hz, 50 Hz to 100 Hz, and70±10 Hz.

A vertical resolution (the number of vertical scanning lines) can beacquired by the following expression.

Vertical resolution (the number of vertical scanning lines)=2×K_(V) (acoefficient of usage time of vertical scan)×f_(H)/f_(V).

The expression, where the horizontal scan frequency f_(H) is 25 kHz, thevertical scan frequency f_(V) is 70 Hz, and the time coefficient K_(V)of usage time of vertical scan is 0.9 to 0.8, for example, gives thenumber of vertical scanning lines of about 600 (2×25 kHz/70 Hz×0.9 to0.85).

Each of the desirable vertical scan frequency f_(V) described above hasnever been used in a vehicle lamp, such as a vehicle headlamp, and hasbeen found in the results of the experiments performed by the inventorsof the present application. That is, there has been common generaltechnical knowledge that a frequency of 100 Hz or more is used to reducea flicker in a general illumination field (other than vehicle lamps,such as a vehicle headlamp), as well as a frequency of 220 Hz or more isused to reduce a flicker in vehicle lamps, such as a vehicle headlamp,whereby each of the desirable vertical scan frequency f_(V) describedabove has never been used in a vehicle lamp, such as a vehicle headlamp.

Subsequently, the common general technical knowledge that a frequency of100 Hz or more is used to reduce a flicker in a general illuminationfield (other than vehicle lamps, such as a vehicle headlamp) will bedescribed using a reference example.

For example, the ministerial ordinance defining technical standards ofelectrical equipment (Ordinance of the Ministry of International Tradeand Industry No. 85 of 1962) describes, “light output should be withouta flicker”. This has been interpreted as “a lamp with a repeatedfrequency of 100 Hz or more as well as no lack of light output, or witha repeated frequency of 500 Hz or more” that does not have a flicker.This ministerial ordinance has not been applied to vehicle lamps, suchas a vehicle headlamp.

Nikkei Newspaper (Aug. 26, 2010) describes, “ . . . a frequency ofalternating current is 50 Hz. Voltage through a rectifier is repeatedlyturned on and off at a frequency of 100 times per second. Change inbrightness in accordance with change in voltage occurs in fluorescentlight. However, LED illumination has no afterglow time like fluorescentlight, and thus brightness changes quickly. As a result, a flicker tendsto be easily felt . . . ”, to show that a flicker tends to be easilyfelt at a frequency of 100 Hz or more.

In general, a flicker is not felt at a blinking cycle of 100 to 120 Hz(a power source cycle of 50 to 60 Hz) in fluorescent light.

Subsequently, the common general technical knowledge that a frequency of220 Hz or more (or a frame rate of 220 fps or more) is used to reduce aflicker in vehicle lamps, such as a vehicle headlamp, will be describedusing a reference example.

A metal halide lamp (HID) used in a vehicle headlamp typically has alighting condition of a rectangular wave of 350 to 500 Hz. This isdetermined by reasons such as: a frequency of 800 Hz or more causessound noise; a low frequency reduces light emission efficiency of theHID; and a frequency of 150 Hz or less shortens a life of the HID due toinfluence on wear of an electrode by heating. The lighting condition ispreferably 250 Hz or more.

International Symposium on Automotive Lighting (ISAL) paper, 2013, withthe title of “Glare-free High Beam with Beam-scanning” (in pages 340 to347) recommends a frequency of 220 Hz or more as well as of 300 to 400Hz or more for a vehicle lamp, such as a vehicle headlamp. Likewise,ISAL 2013 paper with the title of “Flickering effects of vehicleexterior light systems and consequences” (in pages 262 to 266) alsodescribes a frequency of about 400 Hz in a vehicle lamp, such as avehicle headlamp.

As above, it has never been known that a flicker in a vehicle lamp, suchas a vehicle headlamp, can be reduced by using a frequency of 55 Hz ormore (55 to 120 Hz is desirable) as a vertical scan frequency f_(V).

Subsequently, there will be described the experiments that was performedby the inventors of the present application to study the desirablevertical scan frequency f_(V) describe above.

Experiments

The inventors of the present application performed experiments by usinga test system imitating a vehicle headlamp (head lamp) during travelingto evaluate a flicker level felt by a test subject.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the test system.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the test system used a movable road modelusing a rotating belt B capable of changing its rotary speed (whitelines and the like, imitating an actual road, were drawn on a surface ofthe rotating belt B at a scale of ⅕), and a lamp model M same as thevehicle lamp 10, capable of changing output (scan illuminance) of anexcitation light source same as the excitation light source 12.

First, an experiment was performed to determine whether there was adifference in a flicker felt by a test subject between the case wherethe surface of the rotating belt B was irradiated with a lamp model Mwith an excitation light source of an LED and the case where the surfaceof the rotating belt B was irradiated with a lamp model M with anexcitation light source of an LD. Results of the experiment showed thatthere was no deviation in a flicker felt by the test subject if thevertical scan frequency f_(V) is identical to each other in both thecase where the surface of the rotating belt B was irradiated with thelamp model M with an excitation light source of an LED and the casewhere the surface of the rotating belt B was irradiated with the lampmodel M with an excitation light source of an LD.

Next, the rotating belt B was run so as to be each of traveling speeds(0 km/h, 50 km/h, 100 km/h, 150 km/h, and 200 km/h) to measure avertical scan frequency f_(V) at which the test subject felt no flicker.Specifically, the test subject operated a dial to change the verticalscan frequency f_(V), and stopped operating the dial when no flicker isfelt. Then, the vertical scan frequency f_(V) at the time was measured.The vertical scan frequency f_(V) was measured at illuminance of 60 1×equivalent to illuminance on a road surface about 30 to 40 m ahead of avehicle (a region where a driver most frequently watches duringdriving), at illuminance of 300 1× equivalent to illuminance on a roadsurface about 10 m ahead of the vehicle (a region in front of thevehicle), and at illuminance of 2000 1× equivalent to illuminance of areflected light from a near vehicle traveling ahead and a guard rail.FIG. 8 is a graph in which experiment results (measurement results) areplotted to show a relationship between a traveling speed and a flicker.In the graph, the vertical axis represents a vertical scan frequencyf_(V), and the horizontal axis represents a traveling speed per hour.

The following matters can be understood with reference to FIG. 8.

First, a vertical scan frequency f_(V) at which no flicker is felt atilluminance of 60 l× on a road surface and a traveling speed of 0 to 200km/h is 55 kHz or more. In consideration of this and illuminance ofabout 60 1× on a road surface in a region where a driver most frequentlywatches during driving, a vertical scan frequency f_(V) of 55 kHz ormore is desirable to reduce a flicker in a vehicle lamp, such as avehicle headlamp.

Second, a vertical scan frequency f_(V) at which no flicker is felt atilluminance of 60 1× on a road surface and a traveling speed of 0 to 150km/h is 50 kHz or more. In consideration of this and illuminance ofabout 60 1× on a road surface in a region where a driver most frequentlywatches during driving, a vertical scan frequency f_(V) of 50 kHz ormore is desirable to reduce a flicker in the vehicle lamp, such as avehicle headlamp.

Third, as a traveling speed increases, a vertical scan frequency f_(V)at which no flicker is felt tends to increase. In consideration of this,it is desirable to allow the vertical scan frequency f_(V) to bevariable to reduce a flicker in the vehicle lamp, such as a vehicleheadlamp. For example, it is desirable to increase the vertical scanfrequency f_(V) as the traveling speed increases.

Fourth, as illuminance increases, a vertical scan frequency f_(V) atwhich no flicker is felt tends to increase. In consideration of this, itis desirable to allow the vertical scan frequency f_(V) to be variableto reduce a flicker in the vehicle lamp, such as a vehicle headlamp. Forexample, it is desirable to increase the vertical scan frequency f_(V)as the illuminance increases.

Fifth, a vertical scan frequency f_(V) at which no flicker is feltduring a stop at a speed of 0 km/h is higher than that during travelingat a speed of 50 to 150 km/h. In consideration of this, it is desirableto allow the vertical scan frequency f_(V) to be variable to reduce aflicker in the vehicle lamp, such as a vehicle headlamp. For example, ifa vertical scan frequency during a stop is indicated as f_(V) 1, as wellas a vertical scan frequency during traveling is indicated as f_(V) 2,it is desirable to satisfy a relationship of f_(V) 1>f_(V) 2.

Sixth, a vertical scan frequency f_(V) at which no flicker is felt atilluminance of each of 60 1×, 300 1×, and 2000 1× and a traveling speedof 0 to 200 km/h does not exceed 70 kHz. In consideration of this, avertical scan frequency f_(V) of 70 kHz or more, or that of 70±10 Hz isdesirable to reduce a flicker in the vehicle lamp, such as a vehicleheadlamp.

The inventors of the present application have reached a conclusion thata frequency of 120 Hz or less (sawtooth wave) is desirable, particularlya frequency of 100 Hz or less (sawtooth wave) is more desirable, as afrequency (vertical scan frequency f_(V)) of the third alternatingvoltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator 205 and 206in consideration of a mechanical resonant point (hereinafter referred toas a resonant point on a V side) of the movable frame 212 including themirror unit 202, the torsion bars 211 a and 211 b, and the firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204. A reason for that will be describedbelow.

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an oscillationangle of the mirror unit 202 and a frequency, and the vertical axisrepresents an oscillation angle as well as the horizontal axisrepresents a frequency of application voltage (a sine wave or atriangular wave, for example).

For example, when voltage of about 2 V is applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuator 205 and 206 (at low-voltage startup), asillustrated in FIG. 9, the resonant points on the V side exist around1000 Hz and 800 Hz. Meanwhile, when voltage of about 45 V is applied tothe second piezoelectric actuator 205 and 206 (at high-voltage startup),the resonant points on the V side exist around 350 Hz and 200 Hz at themaximum oscillation angle. To achieve periodical vibration (oscillation)for stable angle control, the vertical scan frequency f_(V) needs to beset to avoid the resonant points on the V side. From this viewpoint, afrequency of 120 Hz or less (sawtooth wave) is desirable, and afrequency of 100 Hz or less (sawtooth wave) is more desirable, as afrequency (vertical scan frequency f_(V)) of the third alternatingvoltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator 205 and 206.If the frequency (vertical scan frequency f_(V)) of the thirdalternating voltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator205 and 206 exceeds 120 Hz, the light polarizer 201 is deteriorated inreliability, durability, lifetime, and the like. Thus, also from thisviewpoint, a frequency of 120 Hz or less (sawtooth wave) is desirable,and a frequency of 100 Hz or less (sawtooth wave) is more desirable, asa frequency (vertical scan frequency f_(V)) of the third alternatingvoltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuator 205 and 206.

The desirable vertical scan frequency f_(V) described above has beenderived from knowledge that the inventors of the present applicationhave newly found.

Subsequently, there will be described an example of a configuration of acontrol system that controls the excitation light source 12 and thelight polarizer 201.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the configuration of the controlsystem for controlling an excitation light source 12 and the lightpolarizer 201.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the control system includes a control unit24, and the components that are electrically connected to the controlunit 24, such as an MEMS power source circuit 26, a LD power sourcecircuit 28, an imaging apparatus (camera) 30, an illuminance sensor 32,a vehicle speed sensor 34, a vehicle inclination sensor 36, a distancesensor 38, an accelerator/brake sensor 40 for detecting operation of anaccelerator and a brake, a vibration sensor 42, and a storage device 44.

The MEMS power source circuit 26 serves as piezoelectric actuatorcontrol means (or mirror unit control means) by applying the first andsecond alternating voltage (such a sine wave of 25 MHz) to the firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 in response to control by thecontrol unit 24 to resonantly drive the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204, thereby allowing the mirror unit 202 to oscillate aroundthe first shaft X1, as well as by applying the third alternating voltage(such as a sawtooth wave of 55 Hz) to the second piezoelectric actuators205 and 206 to non-resonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators205 and 206, thereby allowing the mirror unit 202 to oscillate aroundthe second shaft X2.

FIG. 11 includes a middle section that illustrates a state where thefirst and second alternating voltage (such as a sine wave of 25 MHz) isapplied to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, and a lowersection that illustrates a state where the third alternating voltage(such as a sawtooth wave of 55 Hz) is applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206. FIG. 11 also includes an uppersection that illustrates a state where the excitation light source 12(laser beam) is modulated at a modulation frequency f_(L) of 25 MHz insynchronization with oscillation of the mirror unit 202. FIG. 11includes shaded portions illustrating that the excitation light source12 emits no light in the shaded portions.

FIG. 12A illustrates a detail of the first and second alternatingvoltage (such as a sine wave of 25 MHz) applied to the firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, an output pattern of the excitationlight source 12 (laser beam), and the like. FIG. 12B illustrates adetail of the third alternating voltage (such as a sawtooth wave of 55Hz) applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, an outputpattern of the excitation light source 12 (laser beam), and the like.

The LD power source circuit 28 serves as modulation means that modulatesthe excitation light source 12 (laser beam) in synchronization withoscillation of mirror unit 202 in response to control by the controlunit 24.

A modulation frequency (modulation speed) of the excitation light source12 (laser) can be acquired by the following expression.

Modulation frequency f_(L)=(pixel number)×(frame rate f_(V))/(blankingtime ratio B_(r))

The expression, where the pixel number is 300×600, f_(V) is 70, andB_(r) is 0.5, for example, gives the modulation frequency f_(L) that is300×600×70/0.5=about 25 MHz. If the modulation frequency f_(L) is 25MHz, output of the excitation light source 12 can be turned on and offper 1/25 MHz second, or emission intensity can be controlled by multiplestages (multiple stages including 0 as a minimum, for example).

The LD power source circuit 28 modulates the excitation light source 12(laser beam) on the basis of the predetermined light distributionpattern (digital data) stored in the storage device 44 so that atwo-dimensional image corresponding to the predetermined lightdistribution pattern is drawn in the wavelength converter 18 with alaser beam as the excitation light that is two-dimensionally (in thehorizontal direction and vertical direction) scanned by the lightpolarizer 201.

The predetermined light distribution pattern (digital data) includes,for example, a high-beam light distribution pattern (digital data), alow-beam light distribution pattern (digital data), an expressway lightdistribution pattern (digital data), an urban light distribution pattern(digital data), and other various light distribution patterns. Thepredetermined light distribution pattern (digital data) includes dataillustrating an outline and light intensity distribution (illuminancedistribution) of each of the light distribution patterns. Accordingly,the two-dimensional image drawn in the wavelength converter 18 with alaser beam as the excitation light that is two-dimensionally (in thehorizontal direction and vertical direction) scanned by the lightpolarizer 201 has an outline and light intensity distribution (such as alight intensity distribution with a maximum at its central portion,required for the high-beam light distribution pattern) of each of thelight distribution patterns (such as the high-beam light distributionpattern). Each of the predetermined light distribution patterns (digitaldata) can be selected by operating a shift switch provided in a vehicleinterior, for example.

FIGS. 13A to 13C each illustrate a scan pattern of a laser beam (spot)that is two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the verticaldirection) scanned by the light polarizer 201.

A horizontal scan pattern of a laser beam (spot) that istwo-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and the verticaldirection) scanned by the light polarizer 201 includes a pattern ofbidirectional scan (round-trip scan) as illustrated in FIG. 13A, and apattern of one-way scan (only forward scan or backward scan) asillustrated in FIG. 13B.

A vertical scan pattern of a laser beam (spot) that is two-dimensionally(in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) scanned by thelight polarizer 201 includes a pattern of closely scanning by one line,and a pattern of scanning every other line as with interlaced scan asillustrated in FIG. 13C.

A vertical scan pattern of a laser beam (spot) that is two-dimensionally(in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) scanned by thelight polarizer 201 includes a pattern of repeating the following stepof scanning from an upper end to a lower end and returning to the upperend to start scanning after reaching the lower end as illustrated inFIG. 14A, and a pattern of repeating the following step of scanning fromthe upper end to the lower end and scanning from the lower end to theupper end after reaching the lower end as illustrated in FIG. 14B.

During scanning, a time during which the excitation light source 12emits no light, called blanking, occurs at right and left ends of thewavelength converter 18 (screen), and occurs while scanning returns fromthe lower end to the upper end.

Subsequently, another example of control by the control systemillustrated in FIG. 10 will be described.

The control system illustrated in FIG. 10 can perform various kinds ofcontrol other than the example of control above. For example, a vehicleheadlamp of a light distribution variable type with an adaptive drivingbeam (ADB) can be achieved. This can be achieved, for example, asfollows: the control unit 24 determines whether anirradiation-prohibited object (such as a pedestrian and an oncomingvehicle) exists in the predetermined light distribution pattern formedon the virtual vertical screen on the basis of detection results of theimaging apparatus 30 serving as irradiation-prohibited object detectingmeans for detecting an object ahead of an own vehicle; and if it isdetermined that there is an irradiation-prohibited object, the controlunit 24 controls the excitation light source 12 to turn off or reduceoutput at timing when a region on the wavelength converter 18,corresponding to an irradiation area where the irradiation-prohibitedobject exists, is scanned with a laser beam as the excitation light.

Based on the knowledge revealed by the inventors of the presentapplication, or “as traveling speed increases, a vertical scan frequencyf_(V) at which no flicker is felt tends to increase”, it is possible tochange a drive frequency (vertical scan frequency f_(V)) fornon-resonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuator 205 and 206, onthe basis of traveling speed that is a detection result of the vehiclespeed sensor 34 attached to the vehicle. For example, the vertical scanfrequency f_(V) can be increased with increase in the traveling speed.This can be achieved, for example, as follows: the storage device 44previously stores a correspondence relation between a plurality oftraveling speed values (or traveling speed ranges) and a plurality ofvertical scan frequencies f_(V) corresponding to the plurality ofrespective traveling speed values (or traveling speed ranges), in whichas the traveling speed or the traveling speed range increases, a largervertical scan frequency is associated with it; a vertical scan frequencycorresponding to vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 34is read out from the storage device 44; and the MEMS power sourcecircuit 26 applies the third alternating voltage (the read-out verticalscan frequency) to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 tonon-resonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206.

Based on the knowledge revealed by the inventors of the presentapplication, or “a vertical scan frequency f_(V) at which no flicker isfelt during a stop at a speed of 0 km/h is higher than that duringtraveling at a speed of 50 to 150 km/h”, it is possible to make thevertical scan frequency f_(V) during a stop at a speed of 0 km/h, higherthan that during traveling at a speed of 50 to 150 km/h. This can beachieved, for example, as follows: the storage device 44 previouslystores a vertical scan frequency f_(V) 2 during traveling and a verticalscan frequency f_(V) 1 during a stop, in which f_(V) 1 is more thanf_(V) 2; it is determined whether the vehicle is during traveling orduring a stop on the basis of detection results of the vehicle speedsensor 34; if it is determined that the vehicle is during traveling, thevertical scan frequency for during traveling is read out from thestorage device 44; the MEMS power source circuit 26 applies the thirdalternating voltage (the read-out vertical scan frequency for duringtraveling) to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 tonon-resonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206; ifit is determined that the vehicle is during a stop, the vertical scanfrequency for during a stop is read out from the storage device 44; andthe MEMS power source circuit 26 applies the third alternating voltage(the read-out vertical scan frequency for during a stop) to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 to non-resonantly drive the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206.

Based on the knowledge revealed by the inventors of the presentapplication, or “as illuminance increases, a vertical scan frequencyf_(V) at which no flicker is felt tends to increase”, it is possible tochange the drive frequency (vertical scan frequency f_(V)) fornon-resonantly driving the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 onthe basis of illuminance of light returning to a driver (such asilluminance before driver's eyes) that is a detection result of theilluminance sensor 32 attached to the vehicle. For example, the verticalscan frequency f_(V) can be increased with increase in the illuminance.This can be achieved, for example, as follows: the storage device 44previously stores a correspondence relation between a plurality ofilluminance values (or illuminance ranges) and a plurality of verticalscan frequencies f_(V) corresponding to the plurality of respectiveilluminance values (or illuminance ranges), in which as the illuminancevalue or the illuminance range increases, a larger vertical scanfrequency is associated with it; a vertical scan frequency correspondingto an illuminance value detected by the illuminance sensor 32 is readout from the storage device 44; and the MEMS power source circuit 26applies the third alternating voltage (the read-out vertical scanfrequency) to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 tonon-resonantly drive the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206.

Likewise, it is possible to change the drive frequency (vertical scanfrequency f_(V)) for non-resonantly driving the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206 on the basis of a distance to an irradiated objectthat is a detection result of the distance sensor 38 attached to thevehicle.

Likewise, it is possible to change the drive frequency (vertical scanfrequency f_(V)) for non-resonantly driving the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206 on the basis of a detection result of thevibration sensor 42 attached to the vehicle.

Likewise, it is possible to change the drive frequency (vertical scanfrequency f_(V)) for non-resonantly driving the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206 in accordance with the predetermined lightdistribution pattern. For example, it is possible to change the drivefrequency (vertical scan frequency f_(V)) for non-resonantly driving thesecond piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in the expressway lightdistribution pattern as well as in the urban light distribution pattern.

As above, allowing the vertical scan frequency f_(V) to be variableenables the light polarizer 201 to be improved in reliability,durability, lifetime, and the like, as compared with a case where thedrive frequency for non-resonantly driving the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206 is fixed.

A light polarizer 161 of a biaxial nonresonant type may be used insteadof the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonanttype with the configuration above.

(Biaxial Nonresonant Type)

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the light polarizer 161 of a biaxialnonresonant type.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the light polarizer 161 of a biaxialnonresonant type includes a mirror unit 162 (also called an MEMSmirror), piezoelectric actuators 163 to 166 that drive the mirror unit162, a movable frame 171 that supports the piezoelectric actuators 163to 166, and a base 174.

The piezoelectric actuators 163 to 166 are configured and operated aswith the second piezoelectric actuator 205 and 206 of the lightpolarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type.

In the present embodiment, first alternating voltage is applied to eachof the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164 as driving voltage. Atthe time, alternating voltage with a frequency equal to or less than apredetermined value less than a mechanical resonant frequency (firstresonant point) of the mirror unit 162 is applied to the firstpiezoelectric actuators 163 and 164 to non-resonantly drive them. Thisallows the mirror unit 162 to oscillate around the a third shaft X3 withrespect to the movable frame 171 to scan an excitation light incident onthe mirror unit 162 from the excitation light source 12, in a firstdirection (horizontal direction, for example).

Then, second alternating voltage is applied to each of the secondpiezoelectric actuators 165 and 166 as driving voltage. At the time,alternating voltage with a frequency equal to or less than apredetermined value less than a mechanical resonant frequency (a firstresonant point) of the movable frame 171 including the mirror unit 162,and the second piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166, is applied to thesecond piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166 to non-resonantly drive them.This allows the mirror unit 162 to oscillate around a second shaft X4with respect to the base 174 to scan an excitation light incident on themirror unit 162 from the excitation light source 12, in a seconddirection (vertical direction, for example).

FIG. 16A illustrates a detail of the first alternating voltage (such asa sawtooth wave of 6 kHz) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators163 and 164, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laserbeam), and the like. FIG. 16B illustrates a detail of third alternatingvoltage (such as a sawtooth wave of 60 Hz) applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 165 and 166, an output pattern of the excitationlight source 12 (laser beam), and the like.

As above, driving each of the piezoelectric actuators 163 to 166 allowsthe laser beam as the excitation light from the excitation light source12 to be two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction and verticaldirection) scanned.

A light polarizer 201A of a biaxial resonant type may be used instead ofthe light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant typewith the configuration above.

(Biaxial Resonant Type)

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the light polarizer 201A of a biaxial resonanttype.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the light polarizer 201A of a biaxialresonant type includes a mirror unit 13A (also called an MEMS mirror),first piezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab that drive the mirror unit13A through torsion bars 14Aa and 14Ab, a movable frame 12A thatsupports the first piezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab, secondpiezoelectric actuators 17Aa and 17Ab that drive the movable frame 12A,and a base 11A that supports the second piezoelectric actuators 17Aa and17Ab.

The piezoelectric actuators 15Aa, 15Ab, 17Aa, and 17Ab are configuredand operated as with the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 ofthe light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonanttype.

In the present embodiment, first alternating voltage is applied to thefirst piezoelectric actuator 15Aa as the driving voltage, and secondalternating voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuator 15Abas driving voltage. The first alternating voltage and the secondalternating voltage have phases opposite to each other, or phasesshifted from each other (a sine wave, for example). At the time,alternating voltage with a frequency near a mechanical resonantfrequency (a first resonant point) of the mirror unit 13A including thetorsion bars 14Aa and 14Ab is applied to the first piezoelectricactuators 15Aa and 15Ab to resonantly drive them. This allows the mirrorunit 13A to oscillate around a fifth shaft X5 with respect to themovable frame 12A to scan excitation light incident on the mirror unit13A from the excitation light source 12, in a first direction(horizontal direction, for example).

Third alternating voltage is applied to the second piezoelectricactuator 17Aa as driving voltage, and fourth alternating voltage isapplied to the second piezoelectric actuator 17Ab as driving voltage.The third alternating voltage and the fourth alternating voltage havephases opposite to each other, or phases shifted from each other (a sinewave, for example). At the time, alternating voltage with a frequencynear a mechanical resonant frequency (first resonant point) of themovable frame 12A including the mirror unit 13A and the firstpiezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab is applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 17Aa and 17Ab to resonantly drive them. Thisallows the mirror unit 13A to oscillate around a sixth shaft X6 withrespect to the base 11A to scan excitation light incident on the mirrorunit 13A from the excitation light source 12, in a second direction(vertical direction, for example).

FIG. 18A illustrates a detail of the first alternating voltage (such asa sine wave of 24 kHz) applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 15Aaand 15Ab, an output pattern of the excitation light source 12 (laserbeam), and the like. FIG. 18B illustrates a detail of the thirdalternating voltage (such as a sine wave of 12 Hz) applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 17Aa and 17Ab, an output pattern of theexcitation light source 12 (laser beam), and the like.

As above, driving each of the piezoelectric actuators 15Aa, 15Ab, 17Aa,and 17Ab allows a laser beam as the excitation light from the excitationlight source 12 to be two-dimensionally (in the horizontal direction andvertical direction) scanned.

As described above, the present embodiment enables providing a vehiclelamp capable of reducing a flicker, even if the vehicle lamp uses afrequency of any one of “55 fps or more”, “55 fps or more and 120 fps orless”, “55 fps or more and 100 fps or less”, and “70±10 fps”, which aregreatly lower than 220 Hz (or a frame rate greatly lower than 220 fps)at which a flicker has been thought to occur in the vehicle lamp, suchas a vehicle headlamp.

The present embodiment can use a frequency greatly lower than 220 Hz (ora frame rate greatly lower than 220 fps), or a frequency of any one of“55 fps or more”, “55 fps or more and 120 fps or less”, “55 fps or moreand 100 fps or less”, and “70±10 fps”, and thus the light polarizer 201and the like can be improved in reliability, durability, lifetime, andthe like as compared with a case of using a frequency of 220 Hz or more(or a frame rate of 220 fps or more).

The present embodiment also allows a drive frequency for non-resonantlydriving the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, and the like, tobe variable, and thus can improve the light polarizer 201 and the likein reliability, durability, lifetime, and the like, as compared with acase where the drive frequency for non-resonantly driving the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 is fixed.

Next, a vehicle lamp using three light polarizers 201 of a uniaxialnonresonant/uniaxial resonant type will be described with reference toaccompanying drawings, as a second embodiment. Instead of the lightpolarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type, thevarious light polarizers illustrated in the first embodiment areobviously available.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a vehicle lamp 300 of a second embodimentof the presently disclosed subject matter. FIG. 21 is a perspective viewthereof. FIG. 22 is a front view thereof. FIG. 23 is a sectional view ofthe vehicle lamp 300 illustrated in FIG. 22 taken along the line 23-23.FIG. 24 is a sectional perspective view of the vehicle lamp 300illustrated in FIG. 23 taken along the line 23-23. FIG. 25 illustratesan example of a predetermined light distribution pattern P that is to beformed on a virtual vertical screen facing a vehicle front face(arranged about 25 m ahead of the vehicle front face) by the vehiclelamp 300 of the present embodiment.

The vehicle lamp 300 of the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.25, is configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P(such as a high-beam light distribution pattern) that is excellent indistant visibility and light distribution feeling, and that has lightintensity decreasing from center light intensity (P_(Hot)), which isrelatively high, toward the periphery (P_(Hot)→P_(Mid)→P_(Wide)) likegradation.

Comparing the vehicle lamp 300 of the present embodiment with thevehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment finds a difference in that thefirst embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, mainly uses one excitationlight source 12 and one light polarizer 201, but the present embodiment,as illustrated in FIG. 20, uses three excitation light sources (a wideexcitation light source 12 _(Wide), a middle excitation light source 12_(Mid), and a hot excitation light source 12 _(Hot)) and three lightpolarizers (a wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide), a middle light polarizer201 _(Mid), and a hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot)).

Other than the difference, the vehicle lamp 300 has the sameconfiguration as that of the vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment.Hereinafter, the difference from the vehicle lamp 10 of the firstembodiment will be mainly described, and the same component as that ofthe vehicle lamp 10 of the first embodiment will be designated by thesame reference numeral as that of the vehicle lamp 10 to omit adescription the component.

The vehicle lamp 300, as illustrated in FIGS. 20 to 24, is configured asa vehicle headlamp including such as: three excitation light sources 12_(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot): three light polarizers 201 _(Wide),201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) provided to correspond to the threeexcitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot),respectively; a wavelength converter 18 having three scan regionsA_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) (refer to FIG. 20) provided to correspondto the three light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot),respectively; and a projection lens 20 serving as an optical system thatprojects light intensity distribution formed in each of the three scanregions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) to form the predetermined lightdistribution pattern P. The number of the excitation light sources 12,the light polarizers 201, and the scan regions A, is not limited tothree, and thus two, or four or more, is obviously available.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, the projection lens 20, the wavelengthconverter 18, and the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201_(Hot) are arranged in the order described, along a reference axis AX(also called an optical axis) extending in a vehicle longitudinaldirection.

The excitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot) arefixed to a laser holding part 46 in inclined posture to respectivelyallow excitation lights Ray_(Wide), Ray_(Mid), and Ray_(Hot) to travelbackward and toward the reference axis AX, and are arranged so as tosurround the reference axis AX.

Specifically, the excitation light source 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12_(Hot), are fixed to the laser holding part 46, and are arranged, asfollows.

The laser holding part 46 includes extension portions 50U, 50D, 50L, and50R that radiate in a direction substantially orthogonal to thereference axis AX, respectively, from a top portion, a bottom portion, aleft portion, and a right portion of an outer peripheral surface of acylindrical portion 48 extending in a direction of the reference axis AX(refer to FIG. 22). Each of the extension portions 50U, 50D, 50L, and50R has a leading end inclining backward (refer to FIG. 23), and a heatradiation part 54 (heat radiation fins) is arranged between each of theextension portions 50U, 50D, 50L, and 50R (refer to FIG. 22).

The wide excitation light source 12 _(Wide), as illustrated in FIG. 23,is fixed to the leading end of the extension portion 50D in inclinedposture to allow its excitation light Ray_(Wide) to travel in anobliquely backward and upward direction. Likewise, the middle excitationlight source 12 _(Mid) is fixed to the leading end of the extensionportion 50U in inclined posture to allow its excitation light Ray_(Mid)to travel in an obliquely backward and downward direction. Likewise, thehot excitation light source 12 _(Hot), is fixed to the leading end ofthe extension portion 50L in inclined posture to allow its excitationlight Ray_(Hot) to travel in an obliquely backward and rightwarddirection.

A lens holder 56, to which the projection lens 20 (lenses 20A to 20D) isfixed, is fixed to the cylindrical portion 48 by screwing its rear endinto an opening at a leading end of the cylindrical portion 48.

The excitation lights Ray_(Wide), Ray_(Mid), and Ray_(Hot),respectively, emitted from the excitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12_(Mid), and 12 _(Hot), are condensed (collimated, for example) throughthe condenser lens 14 to be incident on the corresponding mirror units202 of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot).

Each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), asillustrated in FIG. 24, is arranged closer to the reference axis AX thanthe excitation light source 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot), so asto surround the reference axis AX to receive excitation light from thecorresponding one of the excitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid),and 12 _(Hot), on its mirror unit 202, as well as to allow theexcitation light as a reflected light from each of the mirror units 202to travel to the corresponding one of the scan regions A_(Wide),A_(Mid), and A_(Hot).

Specifically, the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201_(Hot) are fixed to a light polarizer holding part 58, and are arranged,as follows.

The light polarizer holding part 58 includes a front face in the shapeof a quadrangular pyramid projecting forward, and the front face in theshape of a quadrangular pyramid, as illustrated in FIG. 24, includes atop face 58U, a lower face 58D, a left face 58L, and a right face 58R(not illustrated).

The wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide) (corresponding to the first lightpolarizer of the presently disclosed subject matter) is fixed to thelower face 58D of the front face in the shape of a quadrangular pyramidin inclined posture while its mirror unit 202 is positioned in anoptical path of the excitation light Ray_(Wide) from the wide excitationlight source 12 _(Wide). Likewise, the middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid)(corresponding to the second light polarizer of the presently disclosedsubject matter) is fixed to the top face 58U of the front face in theshape of a quadrangular pyramid in inclined posture while its mirrorunit 202 is positioned in an optical path of the excitation lightRay_(Mid) from the middle excitation light source 12 _(Mid). Likewise,the hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot), (corresponding to the third lightpolarizer of the presently disclosed subject matter) is fixed to theleft face 58L, which is arranged on a left side as viewed from thefront, of the front face in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid ininclined posture while its mirror unit 202 is positioned in an opticalpath of the excitation light Ray_(Hot) from the hot excitation lightsource 12 _(Hot).

Each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) isarranged while the first shaft X1 is included in a vertical plane aswell as the second shaft X2 is included in a horizontal plane. Arrangingeach of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) inthis way enables a predetermined light distribution pattern(two-dimensional image corresponding to the predetermined lightdistribution pattern) that is wide in the horizontal direction andnarrow in the vertical direction and is required for a vehicle headlamp,to be easily formed (drawn).

The wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide) forms a first light intensitydistribution in the wide scan region A_(Wide) (corresponding to thefirst scan region of the presently disclosed subject matter) by drawinga first two-dimensional image in the wide scan region A_(Wide) with theexcitation light Ray_(Wide) that is two-dimensionally scanned in thehorizontal direction and vertical direction by its mirror unit 202.

The middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) forms a second light intensitydistribution, higher than the first light intensity distribution inlight intensity, in the middle scan region A_(Mid) (corresponding to thesecond scan region of the presently disclosed subject matter) by drawinga second two-dimensional image in the middle scan region A_(Mid), whilethe second two-dimensional image overlaps with the first two-dimensionalimage, with the excitation light Ray_(Mid) that is two-dimensionallyscanned in the horizontal direction and vertical direction by its mirrorunit 202.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the middle scan region A_(Mid) is smallerthan the wide scan region A_(Wide) in size, as well as overlaps with thewide scan region A_(Wide). As a result, a light intensity distributionformed in the overlapped middle scan region A_(Mid) is relatively higherthan the wide scan region A_(Wide) in light intensity.

The hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot) forms a third light intensitydistribution, higher than the second light intensity distribution inlight intensity, in the hot scan region A_(Hot) (corresponding to thethird scan region of the presently disclosed subject matter) by drawinga third two-dimensional image in the hot scan region A_(Hot), while thethird two-dimensional image overlaps with the first and secondtwo-dimensional images, with the excitation light Ray_(Hot) that istwo-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction and verticaldirection by its mirror unit 202.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the hot scan region A_(Hot) is smaller thanthe middle scan region A_(Mid) in size, as well as overlaps with themiddle scan region A_(Mid). As a result, a light intensity distributionformed in the overlapped hot scan region A_(Hot) is relatively higherthan the middle scan region A_(Mid) in light intensity.

Each of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) is not limitedto the region with a rectangular outline illustrated in FIG. 20, and maybe, for example, a region with an outline in a circular shape, anelliptical shape, or one of other various shapes.

FIG. 26 includes a portion (a) that is a front view of a wavelengthconverter 18, a portion (b) that is a top view thereof, and a portion(c) that is a side view thereof.

As illustrated in the portions (a) to (c) of FIG. 26, the wavelengthconverter 18 is formed as a plate-shaped wavelength converter (alsocalled a phosphor panel) with a rectangular outline (with a horizontallength of 18 mm, and a vertical length of 9 mm, for example).

The wavelength converter 18, as illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24, is fixedto a phosphor holding part 52 blocking an opening at a trailing end ofthe cylindrical portion 48. Specifically, the wavelength converter 18includes the rear face 18 a whose periphery along an outline thereof isfixed around an opening 52 a formed in the phosphor holding part 52 tocover the opening 52 a.

The wavelength converter 18 is arranged so as to be fitted within acenter line AX₂₀₂ of the mirror unit 202 of the wide light polarizer 201_(Wide) at a maximum deflection angle βh_max (refer to FIG. 29A) as wellas within a center line AX₂₀₂ of the mirror unit 202 of the wide lightpolarizer 201 _(Wide) at a maximum deflection angle βv_max (refer toFIG. 29B). That is, the wavelength converter 18 is arranged so as tosatisfy the following two Expressions 1 and 2.

tan(βh_max)>L/d  (Expression 1)

tan(βv_max)>S/d  (Expression 2),

-   -   where L is ½ of a horizontal length of the wavelength converter        18, and S is ½ of a vertical length of the wavelength converter        18.

Subsequently, a method of adjusting a size (horizontal length andvertical length) of each of the scan regions A_(wide), A_(Mid), andA_(Hot) will be described.

In the case where a distance between the center of the mirror unit 202of each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot)and the wavelength converter 18 is identical or substantially identical(refer to Figured 22 and 23), a size (horizontal length and verticallength) of each of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) canbe adjusted by varying the first alternating voltage and the secondalternating voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204, respectively, as well as the third alternating voltage tobe applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, to changean oscillation range around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 ofeach of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), aswell as an oscillation range around the second shaft X2 thereof. Areason for that will be described below.

In each of the light polarizer 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot),as illustrated in FIG. 27A, a mechanical oscillation angle (half angle,and refer to the vertical axis) around the first shaft X1 of the mirrorunit 202 increases as driving voltage applied to the first piezoelectricactuators 203 and 204 increases (refer to the horizontal axis). Inaddition, as illustrated in FIG. 27B, a mechanical oscillation anglearound the second shaft X2 of the mirror unit 202 (half angle, and referto the vertical axis) also increases as driving voltage applied to thesecond piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 increases (refer to thehorizontal axis).

Thus, in the case where the distance between the center of the mirrorunit 202 of each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and201 _(Hot) and the wavelength converter 18 is identical or substantiallyidentical (refer to Figured 23 and 24), a size (horizontal length andvertical length) of each of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), andA_(Hot) can be adjusted by varying the first alternating voltage and thesecond alternating voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectricactuators 203 and 204, respectively, as well as the third alternatingvoltage to be applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206,to change an oscillation range around the first shaft X1 of the mirrorunit 202 of each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and201 _(Hot), as well as an oscillation range around the second shaft X2thereof.

Next, an example of a specific adjustment will be described. In thedescription below, the distance between the center of the mirror unit202 of each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201_(Hot) and the wavelength converter 18 is identical (“d” in each ofFIGS. 29A and 29B is 24.0 mm, for example), and focal length of theprojection lens 20 is 32 mm.

As illustrated in a line of “WIDE” in FIG. 28A, for example, whendriving voltage of 5.41 V_(pp) is applied to the first piezoelectricactuators 203 and 204 of the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide), amechanical oscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (a half angle ofγh_max) and a maximum deflection angle (a half angle of βh_max) become±9.8 degrees and ±19.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, a size(horizontal length) of the wide scan region A_(Wide) is adjusted to±8.57 mm.

FIG. 28A describes “L” and “βh_max” that represent the distance and theangle described in FIG. 29A, respectively. FIG. 28A and the likedescribe a “mirror mechanical half angle” (also called a mechanical halfangle) that is an angle through which the mirror unit 202 actuallymoves, and is represented by a plus or minus angle from a normaldirection of the mirror unit 202. Meanwhile, FIG. 28A and the likedescribe a “mirror deflection angle” (also called an optical half angle)that is an angle formed by excitation light (light beam) reflected onthe mirror unit 202 and the normal direction of the mirror unit 202, andis also represented by a plus or minus angle from the normal directionof the mirror unit 202. The optical half angle is twice the mechanicalhalf angle by Fresnel's law.

As illustrated in a line of “WIDE” in FIG. 28B, when a driving voltageof 41.2 V_(pp) is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and206 of the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide), a mechanical oscillationangle around the first shaft X1 (a half angle of γv_max) and a maximumdeflection angle (a half angle of βv_max) become ±4.3 degrees and ±8.6degrees, respectively. In this case, a size (vertical length) of thewide scan region A_(Wide) is adjusted to ±3.65 mm.

FIG. 28B describes “S” and “βv_max” that represent the distance and theangle described in FIG. 29B, respectively.

As above, a size (horizontal length and vertical length) of the widescan region A_(Wide) can be adjusted to a size of a rectangle with ahorizontal length of ±8.57 mm and a vertical length of ±3.65 mm byapplying a driving voltage (first alternating voltage and secondalternating voltage) of 5.41 V_(pp) to the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204 of the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide) as well as applyinga driving voltage (third alternating voltage) of 41.2 V_(pp) to thesecond piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 thereof, to change anoscillation range around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 ofthe wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide) and an oscillation range around thesecond shaft X2 thereof.

Light intensity distribution formed in the wide scan region A_(Wide) isprojected forward through the projection lens 20 to form a rectangularwide light distribution pattern P_(Wide) (refer to FIG. 25) on a virtualvertical screen at a horizontal projection angle of ±15 degrees and avertical projection angle of ±6.5 degrees.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in a line of “MID” in FIG. 28A, when a drivingvoltage of 2.31 V_(pp) is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204 of the middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid), a mechanicaloscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (a half angle of γh_max) anda maximum deflection angle (a half angle of βh_max) become ±5.3 degreesand ±11.3 degrees, respectively. In this case, a size (horizontallength) of the middle scan region A_(Mid) is adjusted to ±4.78 mm.

In addition, as illustrated in a line of “MID” in FIG. 28B, when adriving voltage of 24.4 V_(pp) is applied to the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206 of the middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid), amechanical oscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (a half angle ofγv_max) and a maximum deflection angle (a half angle of βv_max) become±2.3 degrees and ±4.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, a size(vertical length) of the middle scan region A_(Mid) is adjusted to ±1.96mm.

As above, a size (horizontal length and vertical length) of the middlescan region A_(Mid) can be adjusted to a size of a rectangle with ahorizontal length of ±4.78 mm and a vertical length of ±1.96 mm byapplying a driving voltage (first alternating voltage and secondalternating voltage) of 2.31 V_(pp) to the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204 of the middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) as well as applyinga driving voltage (third alternating voltage) of 24.4 V_(pp) to thesecond piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 thereof, to change anoscillation range around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 ofthe middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) and an oscillation range aroundthe second shaft X2 thereof.

Light intensity distribution formed in the middle scan region A_(Mid) isprojected forward through the projection lens 20 to form a rectangularmiddle light distribution pattern P_(Mid) (refer to FIG. 25) on avirtual vertical screen at a horizontal projection angle of ±8.5 degreesand a vertical projection angle of ±3.5 degrees.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in a line of “HOT” in FIG. 28A, when a drivingvoltage of 0.93 V_(pp) is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204 of the hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot), a mechanicaloscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (a half angle of γh_max) anda maximum deflection angle (a half angle of βh_max) become ±2.3 degreesand ±4.7 degrees, respectively. In this case, a size (horizontal length)of the hot scan region A_(Hot) is adjusted to ±1.96 mm.

In addition, as illustrated in a line of “HOT” in FIG. 28B, when adriving voltage of 13.3 V_(pp) is applied to the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206 of the hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot), amechanical oscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (a half angle ofγv_max) and a maximum deflection angle (a half angle of βv_max) become±1.0 degrees and ±2.0 degrees, respectively. In this case, a size(vertical length) of the hot scan region A_(Hot) is adjusted to ±0.84mm.

As above, a size (horizontal length and vertical length) of the hot scanregion A_(Hot) can be adjusted to a size of a rectangle with ahorizontal length of ±1.96 mm and a vertical length of ±0.84 mm byapplying a driving voltage (first alternating voltage and secondalternating voltage) of 0.93 V_(pp) to the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204 of the hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot) as well as applying adriving voltage (third alternating voltage) of 13.3 V_(pp) to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 thereof, to change an oscillationrange around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 of the hot lightpolarizer 201 _(Hot), and an oscillation range around the second shaftX2 thereof.

Light intensity distribution formed in the hot scan region A_(Hot) isprojected forward through the projection lens 20 to form a rectangularhot light distribution pattern P_(Hot) (refer to FIG. 25) on a virtualvertical screen at a horizontal projection angle of ±3.5 degrees and avertical projection angle of ±1.5 degrees.

As above, in the case where the distance between the center of themirror unit 202 of each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid),and 201 _(Hot), and the wavelength converter 18 is identical orsubstantially identical (refer to FIGS. 23 and 24), a size (horizontallength and vertical length) of each of the scan regions A_(Wide),A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) can be adjusted by varying driving voltage (firstalternating voltage and second alternating voltage) to be applied to thefirst piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204, respectively, as well asdriving voltage (third alternating voltage) to be applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206, to change an oscillation rangearound the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 of each of the lightpolarizer 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), as well as anoscillation range around the second shaft X2 thereof.

Subsequently, another method of adjusting a size (horizontal length andvertical length) of each of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), andA_(Hot) will be described.

In the case where driving voltage applied to each of the lightpolarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), is identical orsubstantially identical, a size (horizontal length and vertical length)of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) can be adjusted byvarying a distance between the center of the mirror unit 202 of each ofthe light polarizer 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), and thewavelength converter 18 (refer to FIG. 30, for example).

Next, an example of a specific adjustment will be described. In thedescription below, driving voltage applied to each of the lightpolarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) is identical, and theprojection lens 20 has a focal length of 32 mm.

As illustrated in a line of “WIDE” in FIG. 31A, for example, when adistance of the center of the mirror unit 202 of the wide lightpolarizer 201 _(Wide) and the wavelength converter 18 is set at 24.0 mmand a driving voltage of 5.41 V_(pp) is applied to the firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the wide light polarizer 201_(Wide), a mechanical oscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (ahalf angle of γh_max) and a maximum deflection angle (a half angle ofβh_max) become ±9.8 degrees and ±19.7 degrees, respectively. In thiscase, a size (horizontal length) of the wide scan region A_(Wide) isadjusted to ±8.57 mm.

FIG. 31A describes “L”, “βh_max”, and “d” that represent the distanceand the angle described in FIG. 29A.

In addition, as illustrated in a line of “WIDE” in FIG. 31B, when adistance of the center of the mirror unit 202 of the wide lightpolarizer 201 _(Wide) and the wavelength converter 18 is set at 24.0 mmand a driving voltage of 41.2 V_(pp) is applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 of the wide light polarizer 201_(Wide), a mechanical oscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (ahalf angle of γh_max) and a maximum deflection angle (a half angle ofβh_max) become ±4.3 degrees and ±8.6 degrees, respectively. In thiscase, a size (vertical length) of the wide scan region A_(Wide) isadjusted to ±3.65 mm.

FIG. 31B describes “S”, “βv_max”, and “d” that represent the distanceand the angle described in FIG. 29B.

As above, setting a distance between the center of the mirror unit 202of the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide) and the wavelength converter 18at 24.0 mm enables a size (horizontal length and vertical length) of thewide scan region A_(Wide) to be adjusted to a size of a rectangle with ahorizontal length of ±8.57 mm and a vertical length of ±3.65 mm.

Light intensity distribution formed in the wide scan region A_(Wide) isprojected forward through the projection lens 20 to form a rectangularwide light distribution pattern P_(Wide) (refer to FIG. 25) on a virtualvertical screen at a horizontal projection angle of ±15 degrees and avertical projection angle of ±6.5 degrees.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in a line of “MID” in FIG. 31A, when adistance of the center of the mirror unit 202 of the middle lightpolarizer 201 _(Mid) and the wavelength converter 18 is set at 13.4 mmand a driving voltage of 5.41 V_(pp) is applied to the firstpiezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 of the middle light polarizer 201_(Mid), as with the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide), a mechanicaloscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (a half angle of γh_max) anda maximum deflection angle (a half angle of βh_max) become ±9.8 degreesand ±19.7 degrees, respectively, as with the wide light polarizer 201_(Wide). However, the distance (13.4 mm) between the center of themirror unit 202 of the middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) and thewavelength converter 18 is shorter than the distance (24.0 mm) betweenthe center of the mirror unit 202 of the wide light polarizer 201_(Wide) and the wavelength converter 18, and thus a size (horizontallength) of the middle scan region A_(Mid) is adjusted to ±4.78 mm.

In addition, as illustrated in a line of “MID” in FIG. 31B, when adistance of the center of the mirror unit 202 of the middle lightpolarizer 201 _(Mid) and the wavelength converter 18 is set at 13.4 mmand a driving voltage of 41.2 V_(pp) is applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 of the middle light polarizer 201_(Mid), as with the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide), a mechanicaloscillation angle around the first shaft X1 (a half angle of γv_max) anda maximum deflection angle (a half angle of βv_max) become ±4.3 degreesand ±8.6 degrees, respectively, as with the wide light polarizer 201_(Wide). However, the distance (13.4 mm) between the center of themirror unit 202 of the middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) and thewavelength converter 18 is shorter than the distance (24.0 mm) betweenthe center of the mirror unit 202 of the wide light polarizer 201_(Wide) and the wavelength converter 18, and thus a size (verticallength) of the middle scan region A_(Mid) is adjusted to ±1.96 mm.

As above, setting a distance between the center of the mirror unit 202of the middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) and the wavelength converter 18at 13.4 mm enables a size (horizontal length and vertical length) of themiddle scan region A_(Mid) to be adjusted to a size of a rectangle witha horizontal length of ±4.78 mm and a vertical length of ±1.96 mm.

Light intensity distribution formed in the middle scan region A_(Mid) isprojected forward through the projection lens 20 to form a rectangularmiddle light distribution pattern P_(Mid) (refer to FIG. 25) on avirtual vertical screen at a horizontal projection angle of ±8.5 degreesand a vertical projection angle of ±3.6 degrees.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in a line of “HOT” in FIG. 31A, when adistance of the center of the mirror unit 202 of the hot light polarizer201 _(Hot) and the wavelength converter 18 is set at 5.5 mm and adriving voltage of 5.41 V_(pp) is applied to the first piezoelectricactuators 203 and 204 of the hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot), as with thewide light polarizer 201 _(Wide), a mechanical oscillation angle aroundthe first shaft X1 (a half angle of γh_max) and a maximum deflectionangle (a half angle of βh_max) become ±9.8 degrees and ±19.7 degrees,respectively, as with the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide). However, thedistance (5.5 mm) between the center of the mirror unit 202 of the hotlight polarizer 201 _(Hot) and the wavelength converter 18 is shorterthan the distance (13.4 mm) between the center of the mirror unit 202 ofthe middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) and the wavelength converter 18,and thus a size (horizontal length) of the hot scan region A_(Hot) isadjusted to ±1.96 mm.

In addition, as illustrated in a line of “HOT” in FIG. 31B, when adistance of the center of the mirror unit 202 of the hot light polarizer201 _(Hot) and the wavelength converter 18 is set at 5.5 mm and adriving voltage of 41.2 V_(pp) is applied to the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206 of the hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot), as with thewide light polarizer 201 _(Wide), a mechanical oscillation angle aroundthe first shaft X1 (a half angle of γv_max) and a maximum deflectionangle (a half angle of βv_max) become ±4.3 degrees and ±8.6 degrees,respectively, as with the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide). However, thedistance (5.5 mm) between the center of the mirror unit 202 of the hotlight polarizer 201 _(Hot) and the wavelength converter 18 is shorterthan the distance (13 4 mm) between the center of the mirror unit 202 ofthe middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) and the wavelength converter 18,and thus a size (vertical length) of the hot scan region A_(Hot) isadjusted to ±0.84 mm.

As above, setting a distance between the center of the mirror unit 202of the hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot) and the wavelength converter 18 at5.5 mm enables a size (horizontal length and vertical length) of the hotscan region A_(Hot) to be adjusted to a size of a rectangle with ahorizontal length of ±1.96 mm and a vertical length of ±0.84 mm.

Light intensity distribution formed in the hot scan region A_(Hot) isprojected forward through the projection lens 20 to form a rectangularhot light distribution pattern P_(Hot) (refer to FIG. 25) on a virtualvertical screen at a horizontal projection angle of ±3.5 degrees and avertical projection angle of ±1.5 degrees.

As above, in the case where driving voltage applied to each of the lightpolarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) is identical orsubstantially identical, a size (horizontal length and vertical length)of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) can be adjusted byvarying a distance between the center of the mirror unit 202 of each ofthe light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), and thewavelength converter 18.

In the case where the first alternating voltage and the secondalternating voltage to be applied to the first piezoelectric actuators203 and 204 of each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and201 _(Hot) is controlled by feedback control, driving voltage applied toeach of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot),fails to be completely identical. Even in this case, a size (horizontallength and vertical length) of each of the scan region A_(Wide),A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) can be adjusted by varying a distance between thecenter of the mirror unit 202 of each of the light polarizers 201_(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), and the wavelength converter 18.

Subsequently, still another method of adjusting a size (horizontallength and vertical length) of each of the scan regions A_(Wide),A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) will be described.

It is also thought that a size (horizontal length and vertical length)of each of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot), asillustrated in FIG. 32, is adjusted by arranging one of correspondinglenses 66 (such as lenses each having a different focal length) betweeneach of the excitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12_(Hot), and the corresponding one of light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201_(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) (or between each of the light polarizers 201_(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), and the wavelength converter 18).

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce a size ofa vehicle lamp using a plurality of light polarizers each of whichtwo-dimensionally scans excitation light, as well as the number ofcomponents to be a cause of an increase in cost.

This is achieved by using one wavelength converter and one opticalsystem for the plurality of light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid),and 201 _(Hot) instead of using a plurality of wavelength converters(fluorescent substances) and a plurality of optical systems (projectionlenses), such as a conventional vehicle lamp.

According to the present embodiment, in a vehicle lamp using a pluralityof light polarizers each of which two-dimensionally scans excitationlight, it is possible to form a predetermined light distribution patternin which light intensity in a part of the pattern is relatively high,and decreases toward a periphery like gradation, such as thepredetermined light distribution pattern P (such as a high-beam lightdistribution pattern) illustrated in FIG. 25 that has light intensitydecreasing from center light intensity (P_(Hot)), which is relativelyhigh, toward the periphery (P_(Hot)→P_(Mid)→P_(Wide)) like gradation,and that is excellent in distant visibility and light distributionfeeling.

This is achieved by the following: as illustrated in FIG. 20, the middlescan region A_(Mid) is smaller than the wide scan region A_(Wide) insize and is superimposed on the wide scan region A_(Wide), as well asthe hot scan region A_(Hot) is smaller than the middle scan regionA_(Mid) in size and is superimposed on the middle scan region A_(Mid) toallow the first light intensity distribution formed in the wide scanregion A_(Wide), the second light intensity distribution formed in themiddle scan region A_(Mid), and the third light intensity distributionformed in the hot scan region A_(Hot), to increase in light intensity aswell as decrease in size, in the order described; and the predeterminedlight distribution pattern P (refer to FIG. 25) is formed by projectingthe first light intensity distribution, the second light intensitydistribution, and the third light intensity distribution in the widescan region A_(Wide), the middle scan region A_(Mid), and the hot scanregion A_(Hot), respectively.

The present embodiment enables the vehicle lamp 300 (lamp unit) to bereduced in thickness in a direction of the reference axis AX even if thevehicle lamp 300 is larger than a vehicle lamp 400 (lamp unit) describedlater in size in vertical and horizontal directions.

Next, another vehicle lamp using three light polarizers 201 of auniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type will be described withreference to accompanying drawings, as a third embodiment. Instead ofthe light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonanttype, the various light polarizers illustrated in the first embodimentare obviously available.

FIG. 33 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vehicle lamp 400 of thethird embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, and FIG. 34is a sectional perspective view of the vehicle lamp 400 illustrated inFIG. 33.

The vehicle lamp 400 of the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.25, is configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern P(such as a high-beam light distribution pattern) that is excellent indistant visibility and light distribution feeling, and that has lightintensity decreasing from center light intensity (P_(Hot)), which isrelatively high, toward the periphery (P_(Hot)→P_(Mid)→P_(wide)) likegradation.

Comparing the vehicle lamp 400 of the present embodiment with thevehicle lamp 300 of the second embodiment finds a difference in that thesecond embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24, is mainlyconfigured to allow a laser beam as the excitation light from each ofthe excitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot) to bedirectly incident on the corresponding one of light polarizers 201_(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), but the present embodiment, asillustrated in FIGS. 33 and 34, allows a laser beam as the excitationlight from each of the excitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid),and 12 _(Hot) to be incident on the corresponding one of the lightpolarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) after reflected onthe corresponding one of reflection surfaces 60 _(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and60 _(Hot).

Other than the difference, the vehicle lamp 400 has the sameconfiguration as that of the vehicle lamp 300 of the second embodiment.Hereinafter, the difference from the vehicle lamp 300 of the secondembodiment will be mainly described, and the same component as that ofthe vehicle lamp 300 of the second embodiment will be designated by thesame reference numeral as that of the vehicle lamp 300 to omit adescription of the component.

The vehicle lamp 400, as illustrated in FIGS. 33 to 34, is configured asa vehicle headlamp including such as: the three excitation light sources12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot): the three reflection surface 60_(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and 60 _(Hot) provided to correspond to the threeexcitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot),respectively; the three light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and201 _(Hot) provided to correspond to the three reflection surface 60_(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and 60 _(Hot), respectively; the wavelengthconverter 18 having the three scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), andA_(Hot) (refer to FIG. 20) provided to correspond to the three lightpolarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), respectively; andthe projection lens 20 serving as an optical system that projects lightintensity distribution formed in each of the three scan regionsA_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) to form the predetermined lightdistribution pattern P. The number of the excitation light sources 12,the reflection surfaces 60, the light polarizers 201, and the scanregions A, is not limited to three, and thus two, or four or more, isobviously available.

As illustrated in FIG. 33, the projection lens 20, the wavelengthconverter 18, and the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201_(Hot) are arranged in the order described, along the reference axis AX(also called an optical axis) extending in the vehicle longitudinaldirection.

The excitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot) arefixed to a laser holding part 46A in inclined posture to respectivelyallow excitation lights Ray_(Wide), Ray_(Mid), and Ray_(Hot) to travelforward and toward the reference axis AX, and are arranged so as tosurround the reference axis AX.

Specifically, the excitation light source 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12_(Hot) are fixed to the laser holding part 46A, and are arranged, asfollows.

The laser holding part 46A includes: an extension portion 46AU extendingobliquely upward and forward from a top portion of an outer peripheralsurface of the light polarizer holding part 58; an extension portion46AD extending obliquely downward and forward from a bottom portion ofthe outer peripheral surface of the light polarizer holding part 58; anextension portion 46AL extending obliquely left and forward from a leftportion, as viewed from the front, of the outer peripheral surface ofthe light polarizer holding part 58; and an extension portion 46AR (notillustrated) extending obliquely right and forward from a right portion,as viewed from the front, of the outer peripheral surface of the lightpolarizer holding part 58.

The wide excitation light source 12 _(Wide), as illustrated in FIG. 33,is fixed to a front surface of the extension portion 46AD in inclinedposture to allow its excitation light Ray_(Wide) to travel in anobliquely forward and upward direction. Likewise, the middle excitationlight source 12 _(Mid) is fixed to a front surface of the extensionportion 46AU in inclined posture to allow its excitation light Ray_(Mid)to travel in an obliquely forward and downward direction. Likewise, thehot excitation light source 12 _(Hot), is fixed to a front surface ofthe extension portion 46AL in inclined posture to allow its excitationlight Ray_(Hot) to travel in an obliquely forward and left direction asviewed from the front.

The lens holder 56, to which the projection lens 20 (lenses 20A to 20D)is fixed, is fixed to the cylindrical portion 48 by screwing its rearend into an opening at a leading end of the cylindrical portion 48.

The excitation lights Ray_(Wide), Ray_(Mid), and R_(Hot), respectively,emitted from the excitation light sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12_(Hot), are condensed (collimated, for example) through the condenserlens 14 to be incident on the corresponding mirror units 202 of thelight polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), afterreflected on the corresponding reflection surfaces 60 _(Wide), 60_(Mid), and 60 _(Hot).

Each of the reflection surfaces 60 _(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and 60 _(Hot), isfixed to a reflection surface holding part 62 in inclined posture toreceive excitation light from the corresponding one of the excitationlight sources 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot), as well as to alloweach of the excitation lights Ray_(Wide), Ray_(Mid), and Ray_(Hot) as areflected light from the corresponding one of the reflection surfaces 60_(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and 60 _(Hot), to travel backward and toward thereference axis AX. The reflection surfaces 60 _(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and 60_(Hot) are arranged closer to the reference axis AX than the excitationlight source 12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot) so as to surround thereference axis AX.

Specifically, the reflection surface 60 _(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and 60_(Hot) are fixed to the reflection surface holding part 62, and arearranged, as follows.

The reflection surface holding part 62 includes a ring-shaped extensionportion 64 extending backward and outward from the trailing end of thecylindrical portion 48 extending in the direction of the reference axisAX. The ring-shaped extension portion 64 has a rear face that inclinesto allow its outer portion to be positioned behind its inner portionclose to the reference axis AX (refer to FIG. 33).

The wide reflection surface 60 _(Wide) is fixed to a lower portion ofthe rear face of the ring-shaped extension portion 64 in inclinedposture to allow its reflected light as the excitation light Ray_(Wide)to travel in an obliquely backward and upward direction. Likewise, themiddle reflection surface 60 _(Mid) is fixed to an upper portion of therear face of the ring-shaped extension portion 64 in inclined posture toallow its reflected light as the excitation light Ray_(Mid) to travel inan obliquely backward and downward direction. Likewise, the hotreflection surface 60 _(Hot) (not illustrated) is fixed to a leftportion, as viewed from the front, of the rear face of the ring-shapedextension portion 64 in inclined posture to allow its reflected light asthe excitation light Ray_(Hot) to travel in an obliquely backward andright direction as viewed from the front.

Each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot), asillustrated in FIG. 34, is arranged closer to the reference axis AX thanthe reflection surfaces 60 _(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and 60 _(Hot) so as tosurround the reference axis AX to receive the excitation light as areflected light from the corresponding one of the reflection surfaces 60_(Wide), 60 _(Mid), and 60 _(Hot), on its mirror unit 202, as well as toallow the excitation light as a reflected light from each of the mirrorunits 202 to travel to the corresponding one of the scan regionsA_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot).

Specifically, the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201_(Hot) are arranged by being fixed to the light polarizer holding part58, as with the second embodiment.

The wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide) (corresponding to the first lightpolarizer of the presently disclosed subject matter) is fixed to thelower face 58D of the front face in the shape of a quadrangular pyramidin inclined posture while its mirror unit 202 is positioned in anoptical path of the excitation light Ray_(Wide) as a reflected lightfrom the wide reflection surface 60 _(Wide). Likewise, the middle lightpolarizer 201 _(Mid) (corresponding to the second light polarizer of thepresently disclosed subject matter) is fixed to the top face 58U of thefront face in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid in inclined posturewhile its mirror unit 202 is positioned in an optical path of theexcitation light Ray_(Mid) as a reflected light from the middlereflection surface 60 _(Mid). Likewise, the hot light polarizer 201_(Hot) (corresponding to the third light polarizer of the presentlydisclosed subject matter) is fixed to the left face 58L, which isarranged on a left side as viewed from the front, of the front face inthe shape of a quadrangular pyramid in inclined posture while its mirrorunit 202 is positioned in an optical path of the excitation lightRay_(Hot) as a reflected light from the hot reflection surface 60_(Hot).

Each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) isarranged while the first shaft X1 is included in a vertical plane aswell as the second shaft X2 is included in a horizontal plane. Arrangingeach of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and 201 _(Hot) inthis way enables a predetermined light distribution pattern(two-dimensional image corresponding to the predetermined lightdistribution pattern) that is wide in the horizontal direction andnarrow in the vertical direction and is required for a vehicle headlamp,to be easily formed (drawn).

The wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide) forms a first light intensitydistribution in the wide scan region A_(Wide) by drawing a firsttwo-dimensional image in the wide scan region A_(Wide) (corresponding tothe first scan region of the presently disclosed subject matter) withthe excitation light Ray_(Wide) that is two-dimensionally scanned in thehorizontal direction and vertical direction by the mirror unit 202 ofthe wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide).

The middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) forms a second light intensitydistribution having light intensity higher than that of the first lightintensity distribution, in the middle scan region A_(Mid), by drawing asecond two-dimensional image in the middle scan region A_(Mid)(corresponding to the second scan region of the presently disclosedsubject matter) with the excitation light Ray_(Mid) that istwo-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction and verticaldirection by the mirror unit 202 of the middle light polarizer 201_(Mid), while the second two-dimensional image overlaps with a part ofthe first two-dimensional image.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the middle scan region A_(Mid) is smallerthan the wide scan region A_(Wide) in size, as well as overlaps with apart of the wide scan region A_(Wide). As a result, a light intensitydistribution formed in the overlapped middle scan region A_(Mid) isrelatively higher than the wide scan region A_(Wide) in light intensity.

The hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot) forms a third light intensitydistribution, higher than the second light intensity distribution inlight intensity, in the hot scan region A_(Hot) (corresponding to thethird scan region of the presently disclosed subject matter) by drawinga third two-dimensional image in the hot scan region A_(Hot), while thethird two-dimensional image overlaps with a part of the first and secondtwo-dimensional images, with the excitation light Ray_(Hot) that istwo-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction and verticaldirection by its mirror unit 202.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the hot scan region A_(Hot) is smaller thanthe middle scan region A_(Mid) in size, as well as overlaps with themiddle scan region A_(Mid). As a result, a light intensity distributionformed in the overlapped hot scan region A_(Hot) is relatively higherthan the middle scan region A_(Mid) in light intensity.

Each of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot), is not limitedto the region with a rectangular outline illustrated in FIG. 20, and maybe, for example, a region with an outline in a circular shape, anelliptical shape, or one of other various shapes.

The wavelength converter 18 is fixed to the phosphor holding part 52, aswith the second embodiment.

The present embodiment also enables a size (horizontal length andvertical length) of each of the scan regions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), andA_(Hot) to be adjusted by the same method as that of the secondembodiment.

According to the present embodiment, as with the second embodiment, itis possible to reduce a size of a vehicle lamp using a plurality oflight polarizers each of which two-dimensionally scans excitation light,as well as the number of components to be a cause of an increase incost.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, in a vehicle lampusing a plurality of light polarizers each of which two-dimensionallyscans excitation light, it is possible to form a predetermined lightdistribution pattern in which light intensity in a part of the patternis relatively high, and decreases toward a periphery like gradation,such as the predetermined light distribution pattern P (such as ahigh-beam light distribution pattern) illustrated in FIG. 25 that haslight intensity decreasing from center light intensity (P_(Hot)), whichis relatively high, toward the periphery (P_(Hot)→P_(Mid)→P_(Wide)) likegradation, and that is excellent in distant visibility and lightdistribution feeling.

The present embodiment increases reflection one more time as comparedwith the vehicle lamp 300 (lamp unit) to cause efficiency to be slightlydeteriorated accordingly, but enables the vehicle lamp 400 (lamp unit)to be reduced in size in up-and-down and side-to-side directions(horizontal direction and vertical direction).

Next, variations will be described.

Although the first to third embodiments each describe an example using asemiconductor light emission element that emits excitation light, as theexcitation light sources 12 (12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot)), thepresently disclosed subject matter is not limited to this.

For example, an emission end face Fa of an optical fiber F that emitsexcitation light may be used as the excitation light sources 12 (12_(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot)), as illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 35.In particular, using the emission end face Fa of the optical fiber Fthat emits excitation light excitation light as the excitation lightsources 12 (12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), and 12 _(Hot)) enables an excitationlight source (not illustrated) that emits excitation light to be guidedfrom an incident end face Fb of the optical fiber F to be arranged at aplace away from the vehicle lamp 10 (vehicle lamp body). As a result,the vehicle lamp 10 can be further reduced in size and weight.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a combination of three excitationlight sources (not illustrated) and three optical fibers F eachincluding: a core provide with the incident edge face Fb on which alaser beam as excitation light from each of excitation light sources isincident, and with the emission end face Fa through which the laser beamguided from the incident edge face Fb is emitted; and a clad enclosingthe periphery of the core. For convenience of description, a hot opticalfiber F is omitted in FIG. 35.

FIG. 30 illustrates an example of a combination of one excitation lightsource 12, a light distributor 68 that divides a laser beam asexcitation light from the excitation light source 12 into a plurality oflaser beams (such as three beams), and an optical fiber F including: acore provided with the incident edge face Fb on which the laser beamdivided by the light distributor 68, as excitation light, is incident,and with the emission end face Fa through which the laser beam guidedfrom the incident edge face Fb is emitted; and a clad enclosing theperiphery of the core, the optical fiber F comprises a plurality ofoptical fibers F corresponding to the number of the divided beams (suchas three fibers).

FIG. 36 illustrates an example of internal structure of the lightdistributor 68. The light distributor 68 is an example of a lightdistributor configured to divide a laser beam as excitation light fromthe excitation light source 12, condensed through the condenser lens 14,at a ratio of 25%, 37.5%, and 37.5% by arranging a plurality ofnon-deflection beam splitters 68 a, a deflection beam splitter 68 b, a½λ plate (half-wave plate) 68 c, and a mirror 68 d, as illustrated inFIG. 36.

These variations also achieve the effects as with the above respectiveembodiments.

Next, as a fourth embodiment, there will be described a method offorming a light intensity distribution having relatively high lightintensity in a region (and a predetermined light distribution patternhaving relatively high light intensity in a region) by using the lightpolarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type (refer toFIG. 3) in the vehicle lamp 10 described in the first embodiment (referto FIG. 1).

First, there will be described, as illustrated in FIG. 37A, a method offorming a light intensity distribution having relatively high lightintensity in a region B1 near the center (refer to a region surroundedby a dashed line in FIG. 37A) (and a high-beam light distributionpattern having relatively high light intensity in a region near thecenter) as the light intensity distribution having relatively high lightintensity in a region (and a predetermined light distribution patternhaving relatively high light intensity in a region). This method isobviously available to not only the vehicle lamp 10 described in thefirst embodiment, but also the vehicle lamp 300 described in the secondembodiment, the vehicle lamp 400 described in the third embodiment, andother various vehicle lamps. In the description below, the vehicle lamp10 includes a control unit (such as the control unit 24 illustrated inFIG. 10 and the MEMS power source circuit 26) that controls the firstactuators 203 and 204 by resonant drive, as well as the second actuators205 and 206 by nonresonant drive so that a two-dimensional image isformed in a scan region A1 of the wavelength converter 18 withexcitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit202 of the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxialresonant type. In addition, an output (or a modulation rate) of theexcitation light source 12 is constant, and the light polarizer 201 of auniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type is arranged while the firstshaft X1 is included in a vertical plane as well as the second shaft X2is included in a horizontal plane.

FIG. 37A illustrates an example of a light intensity distribution inwhich light intensity is relatively high in the region B1 near thecenter. The light intensity distribution is formed in the scan region A1of the wavelength converter 18 by drawing a two-dimensional image withexcitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit202. The scan region A1 is not limited to the region with a rectangularoutline illustrated in FIG. 37A, and may be, for example, a region withan outline in a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or one of othervarious shapes.

The light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 37A includes aregion near the center in a horizontal direction (a side-to-sidedirection in FIG. 37A), having relatively low light intensity, as wellas regions near right and left ends, having relatively high lightintensity. The light intensity distribution also includes the region B1near the center in a vertical direction (an up-and-down direction inFIG. 37A), having relatively high light intensity, as well as regionsnear upper and lower ends, having relatively low light intensity. As awhole, the light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 37A is alight intensity distribution having relatively high light intensity inthe region B1 near the center, which is required for a vehicle headlamp.

The light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 37A can be formedas follows. That is, the light intensity distribution can be formed byallowing the control unit to control the first actuators 203 and 204 byresonant drive based on a driving signal (sine wave) illustrated in FIG.37B, as well as control the second actuators 205 and 206 by nonresonantdrive base on a driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave)including a nonlinear region illustrated in FIG. 37C. Specifically, thelight intensity distribution can be formed by allowing the control unitto apply driving voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and204 in accordance with a driving signal (sine wave) illustrated in FIG.37B, as well as apply driving voltage to the second piezoelectricactuators 205 and 206 in accordance with a driving signal (sawtooth waveor rectangular wave) including the nonlinear region illustrated in FIG.37C. A reason for that will be described below.

In the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonanttype, when driving voltage is applied to the first piezoelectricactuators 203 and 204 in accordance with the driving signal (sine wave)illustrated in FIG. 37B, an oscillation rate (horizontal scan rate)around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 becomes maximum in aregion near the center in the horizontal direction of the scan region A1of the wavelength converter 18, as well as becomes minimum in regionsnear right and left ends in the horizontal direction. First, this iscaused by a driving signal illustrated in FIG. 37C being a sine wave,and second, caused by allowing the control unit to control the firstactuators 203 and 204 by using resonant drive based on the drivingsignal (sine wave).

In this case, an amount of irradiation of excitation light per unit arearelatively decreases in the region near the center, having a relativelyhigh oscillation rate around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202.Conversely, the amount of irradiation of excitation light per unit arearelatively increases in the regions near the right and left ends, havinga relatively low oscillation rate around the first shaft X1 of themirror unit 202. As a result, the light intensity distributionillustrated in FIG. 37A has light intensity that is relatively low inthe region near the center in the horizontal direction, as well as thatis relatively high in the regions near the right and left ends.

A distance between a plurality of lines extending vertically in FIG. 37Aindicates a scan distance per unit time of excitation light from theexcitation light source 12, being scanned horizontally by the mirrorunit 202. That is, the distance between the plurality of lines extendingvertically indicates an oscillation rate around the first shaft X1 ofthe mirror unit 202 (horizontal scan rate). The shorter distanceindicates a lower oscillation rate around the first shaft X1 of themirror unit 202 (horizontal scan rate).

With reference to FIG. 37A, it can be seen that a distance between theplurality of lines extending vertically is relatively wide in the regionnear the center, or an oscillation rate around the first shaft X1 of themirror unit 202 is relatively high in the region near the center, aswell as a distance between the plurality of lines extending verticallyis relatively narrow in the regions near the right and left ends, or anoscillation rate around the first shaft X1 of the mirror unit 202 isrelatively low in the regions near the right and left ends.

Meanwhile, in the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxialresonant type, when driving voltage is applied to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 in accordance with a driving signal(sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the nonlinear regionillustrated in FIG. 37C, an oscillation rate (vertical scan rate) aroundthe second shaft X2 of the mirror unit 202 relatively decreases in theregion B1 near the center in the vertical direction of the scan regionA1 of the wavelength converter 18. First, this is caused by the drivingsignal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the nonlinearregion illustrated in FIG. 37C, the nonlinear region being adjusted sothat an oscillation rate around the second shaft X2 of the mirror unit202 relatively decreases while a two-dimensional image is drawn in theregion B1 near the center of the scan region A1 of the wavelengthconverter 18 with excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned bythe mirror unit 202, and second, caused by allowing the control unit tocontrol the second actuators 205 and 206 by using nonresonant drivebased on the driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave)including the nonlinear region.

In this case, an amount of irradiation of excitation light per unit arearelatively increases in the region B1 near the center, having arelatively low oscillation rate around the second shaft X2 of the mirrorunit 202. In the region B1 near the center, pixel density as well asresolution is relatively high. Conversely, the amount of irradiation ofexcitation light per unit area relatively decreases in the regions nearthe upper and lower ends, having a relatively high oscillation ratearound the second shaft X2 of the mirror unit 202. In the regions nearthe upper and lower ends, pixel density as well as resolution isrelatively low. As a result, the light intensity distributionillustrated in FIG. 37A has relatively high light intensity in theregion B1 near the center in the vertical direction, as well asrelatively low light intensity in the regions near the upper and lowerends.

A distance between a plurality of lines extending horizontally in FIG.37A indicates a scan distance per unit time of excitation light from theexcitation light source 12, being scanned vertically by the mirror unit202. That is, the distance between the plurality of lines extendinghorizontally indicates an oscillation rate around the second shaft X2 ofthe mirror unit 202 (vertical scan rate). The shorter distance indicatesa lower oscillation rate around the second shaft X2 of the mirror unit202 (vertical scan rate) as well as relatively higher pixel density andresolution.

With reference to FIG. 37A, it can be seen that a distance between theplurality of lines extending horizontally is relatively narrow in theregion B1 near the center, or an oscillation rate around the secondshaft X2 of the mirror unit 202 is relatively low in the region B1 nearthe center, as well as a distance between the plurality of linesextending horizontally is relatively wide in the regions near the upperand lower ends, or an oscillation rate around the second shaft X2 of themirror unit 202 is relatively high in the regions near the upper andlower ends.

As described above, a light intensity distribution (refer to FIG. 37A)having relatively high light intensity in the region B1 near the centeris formed in the scan region A1 of the wavelength converter 18. Thelight intensity distribution has relatively high pixel density andresolution in the region B1 near the center, where an oncoming vehicleor the like decreases in apparent size, and has relatively low pixeldensity and resolution in the regions near the right and left ends,where an oncoming vehicle or the like increases in apparent size. As aresult, the light intensity distribution is particularly suitable for ahigh-beam light distribution pattern to achieve the ADB. The lightintensity distribution having relatively high light intensity in theregion B1 near the center, (refer to FIG. 37A), is projected forwardthrough the projection lens 20 to form a high-beam light distributionpattern having relatively high light intensity in a region near thecenter, on a virtual vertical screen.

As a reference example, there will be described a light intensitydistribution (refer to FIG. 38A) that is formed in the scan region A1 ofthe wavelength converter 18 by allowing the control unit to applydriving voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 203 and 204 inaccordance with a driving signal (identical with the driving signalillustrated in FIG. 37B) illustrated in FIG. 38B, as well as to applydriving voltage to the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 inaccordance with a driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave)including a linear region illustrated in FIG. 38C, instead of a drivingsignal including the nonlinear region illustrated in FIG. 37C.

The light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 38A includes aregion near the center in a horizontal direction (a side-to-sidedirection in FIG. 38A), having relatively low light intensity, as wellas regions near right and left ends, having relatively high lightintensity. The light intensity distribution also has light intensitythat is uniform or substantially uniform between upper and lower ends ina vertical direction (up-and-down direction in FIG. 38A). As a result,the light intensity distribution is unsuitable for a vehicle headlamp. Alight intensity distribution having uniform or substantially uniformlight intensity between the upper and lower ends in the verticaldirection is achieved by using a driving signal illustrated in FIG. 38Cthat is not a driving signal including a nonlinear region such asillustrated in FIG. 37C but a driving signal including a linear regionto allow a vertical scan rate to be constant.

As described above, the present embodiment enables forming a lightintensity distribution (refer to FIG. 37A) that has relatively highlight intensity in a region, such as the region B1 near the center, andthat is required for a vehicle lamp, particularly a vehicle headlamp, ina vehicle lamp using the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxialnonresonant/uniaxial resonant type (refer to FIG. 3) thattwo-dimensionally scans excitation light.

This is achieved by allowing the control unit to control the secondactuators 205 and 206 so that an oscillation rate around the secondshaft X2 of the mirror unit 202 relatively decreases while atwo-dimensional image is drawn in a region, such as the region B1 nearthe center, in the scan region A1 of the wavelength converter 18 withexcitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit202.

The present embodiment also enables forming a predetermined lightdistribution pattern (such as a high-beam light distribution pattern)having relatively high light intensity in a region, such as the regionB1 near the center, in a vehicle lamp using the light polarizer 201 of auniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant type (refer to FIG. 3) thattwo-dimensionally scans excitation light.

This is achieved, as described above, by enabling the light intensitydistribution (refer to FIG. 37A) having relatively high light intensityin a region, such as the region B1 near the center, to be formed, aswell as by projecting the light intensity distribution having relativelyhigh light intensity in the region, such as the region B1 near thecenter, to form the predetermined light distribution pattern, such as ahigh-beam light distribution pattern.

According to the present embodiment, the light intensity distributionformed in the scan region A1 has relatively high pixel density andresolution in the region B1 near the center, where an oncoming vehicleor the like decreases in apparent size, and has relatively low pixeldensity and resolution in the regions near the right and left ends,where an oncoming vehicle or the like increases in apparent size. As aresult, the light intensity distribution is particularly suitable for ahigh-beam light distribution pattern to achieve the ADB.

Adjusting a driving signal including a nonlinear region (refer to FIG.37C, for example) that is a basis of controlling the secondpiezoelectric actuators 205 and 206 enables forming not only a lightintensity distribution having relatively high light intensity in theregion B1 near the center but also a light intensity distribution havingrelatively high light intensity in any region (and a predetermined lightdistribution pattern having relative high light intensity in anyregion).

As illustrated in FIG. 39, for example, it is possible to form a lightintensity distribution having relatively high light intensity in aregion B2 near a side “e” corresponding to a cutoff line (refer to aregion surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 39) and a low-beam lightdistribution pattern having relatively high light intensity in theregion near the cutoff line. This can be easily achieved by using adriving signal including a nonlinear region that is adjusted so that anoscillation rate around the second shaft X2 of the mirror unit 202relatively decreases while a two-dimensional image is drawn in theregion B2 near the side “e” corresponding to the cutoff line in a scanregion A2 of the wavelength converter 18, with excitation light that istwo-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit 202, as the driving signal(sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a nonlinear region that isa basis of controlling the second piezoelectric actuators 205 and 206.

Next, as a fifth embodiment, there will be described a method of forminga light intensity distribution having relatively high light intensity ina region (and a predetermined light distribution pattern havingrelatively high light intensity in a region) by using the lightpolarizer 161 of a biaxial nonresonant type (refer to FIG. 15) insteadof the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonanttype in the vehicle lamp 10 described in the first embodiment (refer toFIG. 1).

First, there will be described, as illustrated in FIG. 40A, a method offorming a light intensity distribution having relatively high lightintensity in regions B1 and B3 near the center (refer to regions eachsurrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 40A) and a high-beam lightdistribution pattern with a region near the center having relativelyhigh light intensity as the light intensity distribution havingrelatively high light intensity in a region and a predetermined lightdistribution pattern having relatively high light intensity in a region.This method is obviously available to not only the vehicle lamp 10described in the first embodiment, but also the vehicle lamp 300described in the second embodiment, the vehicle lamp 400 described inthe third embodiment, and other various vehicle lamps.

In the description below, the vehicle lamp 10 includes a control unit(such as the control unit 24 and the MEMS power source circuit 26illustrated in FIG. 10) that controls the first actuators 163 and 164,as well as the second actuators 165 and 166, by nonresonant drive sothat a two-dimensional image is formed in a scan region A1 of thewavelength converter 18 with excitation light that is two-dimensionallyscanned by the mirror unit 162 of the light polarizer 161 of a biaxialnonresonant type. In addition, an output (or a modulation rate) of theexcitation light source 12 is constant, and the light polarizer 161 of abiaxial nonresonant type is arranged while the third shaft X3 isincluded in a vertical plane as well as the fourth shaft X4 is includedin a horizontal plane.

FIG. 40A illustrates an example of a light intensity distribution inwhich light intensity is relatively high in the regions B1 and B3 nearthe center. The light intensity distribution is formed in the scanregion A1 of the wavelength converter 18 by drawing a two-dimensionalimage with excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by themirror unit 162. The scan region A1 is not limited to the region with arectangular outline illustrated in FIG. 40A, and may be, for example, aregion with an outline in a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or oneof other various shapes.

The light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 40A includes aregion B3 near the center in a horizontal direction (a side-to-sidedirection in FIG. 40A), having relatively high light intensity, as wellas regions near right and left ends, having relatively low lightintensity. The light intensity distribution also includes the region B1near the center in a vertical direction (an up-and-down direction inFIG. 40A), having relatively high light intensity, as well as regionsnear up-and-down ends, having relatively low light intensity. As awhole, the light intensity distribution has relatively high lightintensity in the regions B1 and B3 near the center, which is requiredfor a vehicle headlamp.

The light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 40A can be formedas follows. That is, the light intensity distribution can be formed byallowing the control unit to control the first actuators 163 and 164 bynonresonant drive based on a first driving signal (sawtooth wave orrectangular wave) including a first nonlinear region illustrated in FIG.40B, as well as control the second actuators 165 and 166 by nonresonantdrive based on a second driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangularwave) including a second nonlinear region illustrated in FIG. 40C.Specifically, the light intensity distribution can be formed by allowingthe control unit to apply driving voltage to the first piezoelectricactuators 163 and 164 in accordance with a first driving signal(sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a first nonlinear regionillustrated in FIG. 40B, as well as apply driving voltage to the secondpiezoelectric actuators 165 and 166 in accordance with the seconddriving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the secondnonlinear region illustrated in FIG. 40C. A reason for that will bedescribed below.

In the light polarizer 161 of a biaxial nonresonant type, when drivingvoltage is applied to the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164 inaccordance with the first driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangularwave) including the first nonlinear region illustrated in FIG. 40B, anoscillation rate (horizontal scan rate) around the third shaft X3 of themirror unit 162 relatively decreases in the region B3 near the center inthe horizontal direction of the scan region A1 of the wavelengthconverter 18. First, this is caused by the driving signal (sawtooth waveor rectangular wave) including the first nonlinear region illustrated inFIG. 40B, the nonlinear region being adjusted so that an oscillationrate around the third shaft X3 of the mirror unit 162 relativelydecreases while a two-dimensional image is drawn in the region B3 nearthe center of the scan region A1 of the wavelength converter 18 withexcitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit162, and second, caused by allowing the control unit to control thefirst actuators 163 and 164 by using nonresonant drive based on thefirst driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including thefirst nonlinear region.

In this case, an amount of irradiation of excitation light per unit arearelatively increases in the region B3 near the center, having arelatively low oscillation rate around the third shaft X3 of the mirrorunit 162. In the region B3 near the center, pixel density as well asresolution is relatively high. Conversely, the amount of irradiation ofexcitation light per unit area relatively decreases in the regions nearthe right and left ends, having a relatively high oscillation ratearound the third shaft X3 of the mirror unit 162. In the regions nearthe right and left ends, pixel density as well as resolution isrelatively low. As a result, the light intensity distributionillustrated in FIG. 40A has relatively high light intensity in theregion B3 near the center in the horizontal direction, as well asrelatively low light intensity in the regions near the right and leftends.

A distance between a plurality of lines extending vertically in FIG. 40Aindicates a scan distance per unit time of excitation light from theexcitation light source 12, being scanned horizontally by the mirrorunit 162. That is, the distance between the plurality of lines extendingvertically indicates an oscillation rate around the third shaft X3 ofthe mirror unit 162 (horizontal scan rate). The shorter distanceindicates a lower oscillation rate around the third shaft X3 of themirror unit 162 (horizontal scan rate) as well as relatively higherpixel density and resolution.

With reference to FIG. 40A, it can be seen that a distance between theplurality of lines extending vertically is relatively narrow in theregion B3 near the center, or an oscillation rate around the third shaftX3 of the mirror unit 162 is relatively low in the region B3 near thecenter, as well as a distance between the plurality of lines extendingvertically is relatively wide in the regions near the right and leftends, or an oscillation rate around the third shaft X3 of the mirrorunit 162 is relatively high in the regions near the right and left ends.

Meanwhile, in the light polarizer 161 of a biaxial nonresonant type,when driving voltage is applied to the second piezoelectric actuators165 and 166 in accordance with the second driving signal (sawtooth waveor rectangular wave) including the second nonlinear region illustratedin FIG. 40C, an oscillation rate (vertical scan rate) around a fourthshaft X4 of the mirror unit 162 relatively decreases in the region B1near the center in the vertical direction of the scan region A1 of thewavelength converter 18. First, this is caused by the second drivingsignal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the secondnonlinear region illustrated in FIG. 40C, the second nonlinear regionbeing adjusted so that an oscillation rate around the fourth shaft X4 ofthe mirror unit 162 relatively decreases while a two-dimensional imageis drawn in the region B1 near the center of the scan region A1 of thewavelength converter 18 with excitation light that is two-dimensionallyscanned by the mirror unit 162, and second, caused by allowing thecontrol unit to control the second actuators 165 and 166 by usingnonresonant drive based on the second driving signal (sawtooth wave orrectangular wave) including the second nonlinear region.

In this case, an amount of irradiation of excitation light per unit arearelatively increases in the region B1 near the center, having arelatively low oscillation rate around the fourth shaft X4 of the mirrorunit 162. In the region B1 near the center, pixel density as well asresolution is relatively high. Conversely, the amount of irradiation ofexcitation light per unit area relatively decreases in the regions nearthe upper and lower ends, having a relatively high oscillation ratearound the fourth shaft X4 of the mirror unit 162. In the regions nearthe upper and lower ends, pixel density as well as resolution isrelatively low. As a result, the light intensity distributionillustrated in FIG. 40A has relatively high light intensity in theregion B1 near the center in the vertical direction, as well asrelatively low light intensity in the regions near the upper and lowerends.

A distance between a plurality of lines extending horizontally in FIG.40A indicates a scan distance per unit time of excitation light from theexcitation light source 12, being scanned vertically by the mirror unit162. That is, the distance between the plurality of lines extendinghorizontally indicates an oscillation rate around the fourth shaft X4 ofthe mirror unit 162 (vertical scan rate). The shorter distance indicatesa lower oscillation rate around the fourth shaft X4 of the mirror unit162 (vertical scan rate) as well as relatively higher pixel density andresolution.

With reference to FIG. 40A, it can be seen that a distance between theplurality of lines extending horizontally is relatively narrow in theregion B1 near the center, or an oscillation rate around the fourthshaft X4 of the mirror unit 162 is relatively low in the region B1 nearthe center, as well as a distance between the plurality of linesextending horizontally is relatively wide in the regions near the upperand lower ends, or an oscillation rate around the fourth shaft X4 of themirror unit 162 is relatively high in the regions near the upper andlower ends.

As described above, a light intensity distribution (refer to FIG. 40A)having relatively high light intensity in the regions B1 and B3 near thecenter is formed in the scan region A1 of the wavelength converter 18.The light intensity distribution has relatively high pixel density andresolution in the region B1 near the center, where an oncoming vehicleor the like decreases in apparent size, and has relatively low pixeldensity and resolution in the regions near the right and left ends,where an oncoming vehicle or the like increases in apparent size. As aresult, the light intensity distribution is particularly suitable for ahigh-beam light distribution pattern to achieve the ADB. The lightintensity distribution having relatively high light intensity in theregions B1 and B3 near the center, (refer to FIG. 40A), is projectedforward through the projection lens 20 to form a high-beam lightdistribution pattern having relatively high light intensity in a regionnear the center, on a virtual vertical screen.

As a reference example, there will be described a light intensitydistribution (refer to FIG. 41A) that is formed in the scan region A1 ofthe wavelength converter 18 by allowing the control unit to applydriving voltage to the first piezoelectric actuators 163 and 164 inaccordance with a driving signal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave)including a linear region illustrated in FIG. 41B driving voltage,instead of the first driving signal including the first nonlinear regionillustrated in FIG. 40B, as well as to apply driving voltage to thesecond piezoelectric actuators 165 and 166 in accordance with a drivingsignal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including a linear regionillustrated in FIG. 41C, instead of the second driving signal includingthe second nonlinear region illustrated in FIG. 40C.

The light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 41A has lightintensity that is uniform or substantially uniform between the right andleft ends in the horizontal direction (side-to-side direction in FIG.41A), as well as between the upper and lower ends in the verticaldirection (side-to-side direction in FIG. 41A). As a result, the lightintensity distribution is unsuitable for a vehicle headlamp. A lightintensity distribution having uniform or substantially uniform lightintensity between the right and left ends in the horizontal direction isachieved by using a driving signal illustrated in FIG. 41B that is not adriving signal including a nonlinear region such as illustrated in FIG.40B but a driving signal including a linear region to allow a horizontalscan rate to be constant. Likewise, a light intensity distributionhaving uniform or substantially uniform light intensity between theupper and lower ends in the vertical direction is achieved by using adriving signal illustrated in FIG. 41C that is not a driving signalincluding a nonlinear region such as illustrated in FIG. 40C but adriving signal including a linear region to allow a vertical scan rateto be constant.

As described above, the present embodiment enables forming a lightintensity distribution (refer to FIG. 40A) having relatively high lightintensity in a region, such as the regions B1 and B3 near the center,the light intensity distribution being required for a vehicle lamp,particularly a vehicle headlamp, in a vehicle lamp using the lightpolarizer 161 of a biaxial nonresonant type (refer to FIG. 15) thattwo-dimensionally scans excitation light.

This is achieved by allowing the control unit to control the firstactuators 163 and 164, as well as the second actuators 165 and 166 sothat an oscillation rate around the third shaft X3 of the mirror unit162 as well as around the fourth shaft X4 thereof relatively decreaseswhile a two-dimensional image is drawn in a region, such as the regionsB1 and B3 near the center, in the scan region A1 of the wavelengthconverter 18 with excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned bythe mirror unit 162.

The present embodiment also enables forming a predetermined lightdistribution pattern (such as a high-beam light distribution pattern)having relatively high light intensity in a region, such as the regionsB1 and B3 near the center, in a vehicle lamp using the light polarizer161 of a biaxial nonresonant type (refer to FIG. 15) thattwo-dimensionally scans excitation light.

This is achieved, as described above, by enabling the light intensitydistribution (refer to FIG. 40A) having relatively high light intensityin a region, such as the regions B1 and B3 near the center, to beformed, as well as by projecting the light intensity distribution (referto FIG. 40A) having relatively high light intensity in the region, suchas the regions B1 and B3 near the center, to form the predeterminedlight distribution pattern.

According to the present embodiment, the light intensity distributionformed in the scan region A1 has relatively high pixel density andresolution in the region B1 near the center, where an oncoming vehicleor the like decreases in apparent size, and has relatively low pixeldensity and resolution in the regions near the right and left ends,where an oncoming vehicle or the like increases in apparent size. As aresult, the light intensity distribution is particularly suitable for ahigh-beam light distribution pattern to achieve the ADB.

Adjusting the first and second driving signals each including anonlinear region that is a basis of controlling the first actuators 163and 164, as well as the second actuators 165 and 166, enables formingnot only a light intensity distribution having relatively high lightintensity in the regions B1 and B3 near the center but also a lightintensity distribution having relatively high light intensity in anyregion (and a predetermined light distribution pattern having relativehigh light intensity in any region).

As illustrated in FIG. 39, for example, it is possible to form a lightintensity distribution having relatively high light intensity in aregion B2 near a side “e” corresponding to a cutoff line (refer to aregion surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 39) and a low-beam lightdistribution pattern having relatively high light intensity in theregion near the cutoff line. This can be easily achieved by using adriving signal including a nonlinear region that is adjusted so that anoscillation rate around the fourth shaft X4 of the mirror unit 162relatively decreases while a two-dimensional image is drawn in theregion B2 near the side “e” corresponding to the cutoff line in the scanregion A2 of the wavelength converter 18, with excitation light that istwo-dimensionally scanned by the mirror unit 162, as the second drivingsignal (sawtooth wave or rectangular wave) including the secondnonlinear region that is a basis of controlling the second piezoelectricactuators 165 and 166.

As a reference example, there will be described a light intensitydistribution (refer to FIG. 42A) that is formed in the scan region A1 ofthe wavelength converter 18 in the vehicle lamp 10 described in thefirst embodiment (refer to FIG. 1) by allowing the control unit to applydriving voltage to first piezoelectric actuators 15Aa and 15Ab inaccordance with a driving signal (sine wave) illustrated in FIG. 42B byusing the light polarizer 201A of a biaxial resonant type (refer to FIG.17) instead of the light polarizer 201 of a uniaxialnonresonant/uniaxial resonant type, as well as apply driving voltage tosecond piezoelectric actuators 17Aa and 17Ab in accordance with adriving signal (sine wave) illustrated in FIG. 42C.

In the description below, the vehicle lamp 10 includes a control unit(such as the control unit 24 and the MEMS power source circuit 26illustrated in FIG. 10) that controls the first actuators 15Aa and 15Abby resonant drive, as well as the second actuators 17Aa and 17Ab byresonant drive so that a two-dimensional image is formed in the scanregion A with excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned by themirror unit 13A of the light polarizer 201A of a biaxial resonant type.In addition, an output (or a modulation rate) of the excitation lightsource 12 is constant, and the light polarizer 201A of a biaxialnonresonant type is arranged while the fifth shaft X5 is included in avertical plane as well as the sixth shaft X6 is included in a horizontalplane.

In this case, the light intensity distribution illustrated in FIG. 42Aincludes a region near the center in a horizontal direction (aside-to-side direction in FIG. 42A), having relatively low lightintensity, as well as regions near right and left ends, havingrelatively high light intensity. The light intensity distribution alsoincludes a region near the center in a vertical direction (anup-and-down direction in FIG. 42A), having relatively low lightintensity, as well as regions near upper and lower ends, havingrelatively high light intensity. As a result, the light intensitydistribution is unsuitable for a vehicle headlamp.

Next, as a sixth embodiment, there will be described a method of forminga high-beam light distribution pattern P_(Hi) (refer to FIG. 43D) inwhich a plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide)including non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 illustrated in FIGS.43A to 43C, respectively, are superimposed.

Although an example of forming the high-beam light distribution patternP_(Hi) (refer to FIG. 43D) by using the vehicle lamp 300 described inthe second embodiment (refer to FIGS. 20 to 24) will be described below,it is obvious that, instead of the vehicle lamp 300, the vehicle lamp400 described in the third embodiment, a plurality of lamp units formingthe respective irradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide), orone of other various vehicle lamps or lamp units, is available. Inaddition, the high-beam light distribution pattern P_(Hi) is not limitedto a light distribution pattern in which three irradiation patterns(irradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide)) are superimposed,and thus a light distribution pattern in which two, or four or moreirradiation patterns are superimposed is obviously available.

In the description below, the vehicle lamp 300 includesirradiation-prohibited object detecting means (an imaging apparatus suchas a camera 30 illustrated in FIG. 10, for example) for detecting anirradiation-prohibited object ahead of a vehicle, such as a pedestrianand an oncoming vehicle.

FIG. 43A illustrates an example of the irradiation pattern P_(Hot)provided with the non-irradiation region C1, FIG. 43B illustrates anexample of the irradiation pattern P_(Mid) provided with thenon-irradiation region C2, and FIG. 43C illustrates an example of theirradiation pattern P_(wide) provided with the non-irradiation regionC3.

The plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot), N_(Mid), and P_(Wide), asillustrated in FIG. 43D, is superimposed so that the non-irradiationregions C1, C2, and C3 are superimposed on each other to form a commonnon-irradiation region C.

The non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3, as illustrated in FIGS. 43Ato 43D, are different from each other in size. This enables an area ofthe common non-irradiation region C (refer to a hatched region in FIG.44) to be prevented from decreasing even if the non-irradiation regionsC1, C2, and C3 formed in the plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot),P_(Mid), and P_(Wide), respectively, are displaced from each other asillustrated in FIG. 44 due to control error, misalignment of an opticalaxis, etc. of each of the light polarizers 201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), and201 _(Hot). As a result, glare light can be prevented from occurring toan irradiation-prohibited object. This is achieved by thenon-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 formed in the plurality ofirradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide), respectively, whichare not identical in size and are different from each other in size.

Each of the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 (commonnon-irradiation region C) is formed in a region of the corresponding oneof the plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide),the region corresponding to an irradiation-prohibited object detected bythe irradiation-prohibited object detecting means. That is, each of thenon-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 (common non-irradiation region C)is formed in a different region corresponding to a position at which anirradiation-prohibited object is detected. This enables glare light tobe prevented from occurring to an irradiation-prohibited object ahead ofthe vehicle, such as a pedestrian and an oncoming vehicle.

The plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide) isdifferent from each other in size, and has light intensity thatincreases as the irradiation patterns decrease in size. This enablesforming a high-beam light distribution pattern (refer to FIG. 43D) thathas light intensity decreasing from center light intensity (P_(Hot)),which is relatively high, toward the periphery(P_(Hot)→P_(Mid)→P_(Wide)) like gradation, and that is excellent indistant visibility and light distribution feeling.

The non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 decrease in size as anirradiation pattern in which each of the non-irradiation region C1, C2,and C3 is formed decreases in size. That is, there is a relationship ofsize as follows: the non-irradiation region C1<the non-irradiationregion C2<the non-irradiation region C3. Accordingly, thenon-irradiation region C1 with a minimum size is formed in theirradiation pattern P_(Hot) with a minimum size as well as a maximumlight intensity, and thus a wider region can be brightly irradiated ascompared with a case where the non-irradiation region C1 with theminimum size is formed in the irradiation patterns P_(Mid) or P_(Wide)with a size other than the minimum size. In addition, thenon-irradiation region C1 with the minimum size is formed in theirradiation pattern P_(Hot) with the minimum size as well as the maximumlight intensity, and thus a contrast ratio in a region near a contour ofthe common non-irradiation region C can be relatively increased (referto FIG. 44) as compared with a case where the non-irradiation region C1with the minimum size is formed in the irradiation patterns P_(Mid) orP_(Wide) with a size other than the minimum size. As a result, thecontour of the common non-irradiation region C can be sharpened. Thenon-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 are required to be different fromeach other in size, and thus may obviously have a relationship of sizeother than the following: the non-irradiation region C1<thenon-irradiation region C2<the non-irradiation region C3. Therelationship of size other than the following: the non-irradiationregion C1<the non-irradiation region C2<the non-irradiation region C3enables the contour of the common non-irradiation region C to bemoderately blurred.

The non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 formed in the plurality ofirradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide), respectively, havea similar shape. This enables an area of the common non-irradiationregion C (refer to the hatched region in FIG. 44) to be prevented fromdecreasing even if the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 formed inthe plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide),respectively, are displaced from each other in any direction. As aresult, glare light can be prevented from occurring to anirradiation-prohibited object. The non-irradiation regions C1, C2, andC3 are required to be different from each other in size, and thus mayhave a shape other than a similar shape. In addition, thenon-irradiation regions are not limited to the region with a rectangularoutline illustrated in FIGS. 43A to 43C, and may be obviously, forexample, a region with an outline in a circular shape, an ellipticalshape, or one of other various shapes.

The high-beam light distribution pattern P_(Hi) illustrated in FIG. 43Dis formed on a virtual vertical screen by projecting forward a lightintensity distribution formed in each of the scan regions A_(Wide),A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) through the projection lens 20.

The light intensity distribution is formed in each of the scan regionsA_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) as follows.

The wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide) forms the first light intensitydistribution (a light intensity distribution corresponding to theirradiation pattern P_(Wide) illustrated in FIG. 43C) in the wide scanregion A_(Wide) by drawing the first two-dimensional image (atwo-dimensional image corresponding to the irradiation pattern P_(Wide)illustrated in FIG. 43C) in the wide scan region A_(Wide) (refer to FIG.20) with the excitation light Ray_(Wide) that is two-dimensionallyscanned in the horizontal direction and vertical direction by the mirrorunit 202 of the wide light polarizer 201 _(Wide).

The middle light polarizer 201 _(Mid) forms the second light intensitydistribution (a light intensity distribution corresponding to theirradiation pattern P_(Mid) illustrated in FIG. 43B) that has lightintensity higher than that of the first light intensity distribution inthe middle scan region A_(Mid) by drawing the second two-dimensionalimage (a two-dimensional image corresponding to the irradiation patternP_(Mid) illustrated in FIG. 43B) in the middle scan region A_(Mid)(refer to FIG. 20), while the second two-dimensional image overlaps withthe first two-dimensional image, with the excitation light Ray_(Mid)that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction andvertical direction by the mirror unit 202 of the middle light polarizer201 _(Mid).

The hot light polarizer 201 _(Hot) forms the third light intensitydistribution (a light intensity distribution corresponding to theirradiation pattern P_(Hot) illustrated in FIG. 43A) that has lightintensity higher than that of the second light intensity distribution inthe hot scan region A_(Hot) by drawing the third two-dimensional image(a two-dimensional image corresponding to the irradiation patternP_(Hot) illustrated in FIG. 43A) in the hot scan region A_(Hot) (referto FIG. 20), while the third two-dimensional image overlaps with thefirst and second two-dimensional images, with the excitation lightRay_(Hot) that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal directionand vertical direction by the mirror unit 202 of the hot light polarizer201 _(Hot).

The first light intensity distribution, the second light intensitydistribution, and the third light intensity distribution, includenon-irradiation regions corresponding to the non-irradiation regions C1,C2, and C3, respectively, as well as are formed in the scan regionA_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot), respectively, while being superimposedso that the non-irradiation regions are superimposed on each other toform a common non-irradiation region.

As above, the light intensity distribution formed in each of the scanregions A_(Wide), A_(Mid), and A_(Hot) is projected forward through theprojection lens 20 to form the high-beam light distribution patternP_(Hi) illustrated in FIG. 43D on the virtual vertical screen.

As described above, in a vehicle lamp configured to form a predeterminedlight distribution pattern (such as a high-beam light distributionpattern) in which the plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot),P_(Mid), and P_(Wide) provided with the non-irradiation region C1, C2,and C3, respectively, is superimposed, the present embodiment enables anarea of the common non-irradiation region (refer to the hatched regionin FIG. 44) to be prevented from decreasing, even if the non-irradiationregions C1, C2, and C3 formed in the plurality of irradiation patternsP_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide), respectively, are displaced from eachother (refer to FIG. 44), to prevent glare light from occurring to anirradiation-prohibited object.

This is achieved by the non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3 formed inthe plurality of irradiation patterns P_(Hot), P_(Mid), and P_(Wide),respectively, which are not identical in size and are different fromeach other in size.

Two vehicle lamps 300 may be used to form a high-beam light distributionpattern P_(Hi) (refer to FIG. 45C) in which two high-beam lightdistribution patterns PL_(Hi) and PR_(Hi) illustrated in FIGS. 45A and45B, respectively, are superimposed.

FIG. 45A illustrates an example of the high-beam light distributionpattern PL_(Hi) formed by a vehicle lamp 300L arranged on a left side ofa vehicle front (left side facing ahead of the vehicle), and FIG. 45Billustrates an example of the high-beam light distribution patternPR_(Hi) formed by a vehicle lamp 300R arranged on a right side of thevehicle front (right side facing ahead of the vehicle). In addition,each of the high-beam light distribution patterns PL_(Hi) and PR_(Hi) isnot limited to a light distribution pattern in which three irradiationpatterns (irradiation patterns PL_(Hot), PL_(Mid), and PL_(Wide),irradiation patterns PR_(Hot), PR_(Mid), and PR_(Wide)) aresuperimposed, and thus may obviously have one irradiation pattern, ormay obviously be a light distribution pattern in which two, or four ormore irradiation patterns are superimposed.

The high-beam light distribution patterns PL_(Hi) and PR_(Hi), asillustrated in FIG. 45C, includes a common non-irradiation region C(non-irradiation regions C1, C2, and C3) and a non-irradiation regionC4, respectively, and are superimposed so that the commonnon-irradiation region C and the non-irradiation region C4 aresuperimposed to form a common non-irradiation region CC.

The common non-irradiation region C (non-irradiation regions C1, C2, andC3) and the non-irradiation region C4, as illustrated in FIGS. 45A to45C, are different from each other in size. For example, thenon-irradiation regions C1, C2, C3, and C4 have a relationship of sizeas follows: the non-irradiation region C1<the non-irradiation regionC2<the non-irradiation region C3<the non-irradiation region C4.Accordingly, the non-irradiation region C1 with a minimum size is formedin the irradiation pattern P_(Hot) with a minimum size as well as amaximum light intensity, and thus a wider region can be brightlyirradiated as compared with a case where the non-irradiation region C1with the minimum size is formed in the irradiation patterns P_(Mid) orP_(Wide) with a size other than the minimum size. In addition, thenon-irradiation region C1 with the minimum size is formed in theirradiation pattern P_(Hot) with the minimum size as well as the maximumlight intensity, and thus a contrast ratio in a region near a contour ofthe common non-irradiation region CC can be relatively increased ascompared with a case where the non-irradiation region C1 with theminimum size is formed in the irradiation patterns P_(Mid) or P_(Wide)with a size other than the minimum size. As a result, the contour of thecommon non-irradiation region CC can be sharpened. The non-irradiationregions C1, C2, C3, C4 are required to be different from each other insize, and thus may obviously have a relationship of size other than thefollowing: the non-irradiation region C1<the non-irradiation regionC2<the non-irradiation region C3<the non-irradiation region C4. Therelationship of size other than the following: the non-irradiationregion C1<the non-irradiation region C2<the non-irradiation regionC3<the non-irradiation region C4 enables the contour of the commonnon-irradiation region CC to be moderately blurred.

All of the numeric values illustrated in the embodiments and therespective variations are illustrated as examples, and thus appropriatenumeric values different from the numeric values are available.

The embodiments are only examples in all points. The presently disclosedsubject matter is not definitely interpreted by the description of theembodiments. The presently disclosed subject matter can be practiced byother various forms without departing from its sprit or essentialfeatures.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10 . . . vehicle lamp, 12 (12 _(Wide), 12 _(Mid), 12 _(Hot)) . . .excitation light source, 14 . . . condenser lens, 18 . . . wavelengthconverter, 20 . . . projection lens, 22 . . . frame body, 24 . . .control unit, 26 . . . MEMS power source circuit, 28 . . . LD powersource circuit, 30 . . . imaging apparatus, 32 . . . illuminance sensor,34 . . . vehicle speed sensor, 36 . . . vehicle inclination sensor, 38 .. . distance sensor, 40 . . . accelerator/brake sensor, 42 . . .vibration sensor, 44 . . . storage device, 46, 46A . . . laser holdingpart, 48 . . . cylindrical portion, 52 . . . phosphor holding part, 52 a. . . opening, 54 . . . heat radiation part, 56 . . . lens holder, 58 .. . light polarizer holding part, 60 (60 _(Wide), 60 _(Mid), 60 _(Hot)). . . reflection surface, 62 . . . reflection surface holding part, 201(201 _(Wide), 201 _(Mid), 201 _(Hot)) . . . light polarizer, 300 . . .vehicle lamp

1. A vehicle lamp that forms a predetermined light distribution patternin which a plurality of irradiation patterns each provided with anon-irradiation region is superimposed, wherein the plurality ofirradiation patterns are superimposed so that the non-irradiationregions are superimposed to form a common non-irradiation region, andsizes of the non-irradiation regions formed in the plurality ofrespective irradiation patterns are different from each other.
 2. Thevehicle lamp according to claim 1, further comprising:irradiation-prohibited object detecting unit configured to detect anirradiation-prohibited object ahead of a vehicle, wherein thenon-irradiation region is formed in a region corresponding to theirradiation-prohibited object, detected by the irradiation-prohibitedobject detecting means, in each of the plurality of irradiationpatterns.
 3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of respective irradiation patterns is different from eachother in size, and has higher light intensity as a size thereofdecreases.
 4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 3, wherein thenon-irradiation region formed in each of the plurality of irradiationpatterns decreases in size as the irradiation pattern provided with thenon-irradiation region decreases in size.
 5. The vehicle lamp accordingto claim 1, wherein the non-irradiation region in each of the pluralityof irradiation patterns has a similar shape.
 6. The vehicle lampaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a first lamp unit that isarranged on left of a vehicle front to form at least one of theplurality of irradiation patterns; and a second lamp unit that isarranged on right of the vehicle front to form at least one of theplurality of irradiation patterns.
 7. The vehicle lamp according toclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of excitation light sources; aplurality of light polarizers that is provided corresponding to theplurality of excitation light sources, and each of which includes amirror unit that two-dimensionally scans an excitation light incidentfrom the corresponding one of the plurality of excitation light sourcesin a horizontal direction and vertical direction; a wavelength converterthat includes a plurality of scan regions provided corresponding to theplurality of light polarizers, and in which light intensitydistributions corresponding to the plurality of respective irradiationpatterns are formed in the plurality of corresponding scan regions bydrawing a two-dimensional image in the corresponding one of theplurality of scan regions with the excitation light that istwo-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction and verticaldirection by the mirror unit of each of the plurality of lightpolarizers; and an optical system that projects the light intensitydistributions formed in the plurality of respective scan regions to formthe predetermined light distribution pattern.
 8. The vehicle lampaccording to claim 7, wherein the plurality of excitation light sourcesis a semiconductor light emission element that emits the excitationlight, or an emission end face of an optical fiber for emitting theexcitation light.
 9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7, wherein theplurality of irradiation patterns includes a first irradiation patternprovided with a first non-irradiation region, a second irradiationpattern provided with a second non-irradiation region, and a thirdirradiation pattern provided with a third non-irradiation region, thefirst irradiation pattern, the second irradiation pattern, and the thirdirradiation pattern are superimposed so that the first non-irradiationregion, the second non-irradiation region, and the third non-irradiationregion are superimposed to form a common non-irradiation region, theplurality of light polarizers includes a first light polarizer, a secondlight polarizer, and a third light polarizer, the plurality of scanregions includes a first scan region, a second scan region that issmaller than the first scan region in size and that is superimposed onthe first scan region, and a third scan region that is smaller than thesecond scan region in size and that is superimposed on the second scanregion, the first light polarizer forms a first light intensitydistribution corresponding to the first irradiation pattern in the firstscan region by drawing a first two-dimensional image in the first scanregion with the excitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned inthe horizontal direction and vertical direction by the mirror unit ofthe first light polarizer, the second light polarizer forms a secondlight intensity distribution higher than the first light intensitydistribution in light intensity, corresponding to the second irradiationpattern, in the second scan region by drawing a second two-dimensionalimage in the second scan region, while the second two-dimensional imageoverlaps with a part of the first two-dimensional image, with theexcitation light that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontaldirection and vertical direction by the mirror unit of the second lightpolarizer, and the third light polarizer forms a third light intensitydistribution higher than the second light intensity distribution inlight intensity, corresponding to the third irradiation pattern, in thethird scan region by drawing a third two-dimensional image in the thirdscan region, while the third two-dimensional image overlaps with a partof the first and second two-dimensional images, with the excitationlight that is two-dimensionally scanned in the horizontal direction andvertical direction by the mirror unit of the third light polarizer. 10.The vehicle lamp according to claim 7, wherein the optical system, thewavelength converter, and the plurality of light polarizers, arearranged along a reference axis, in the order described, the pluralityof excitation light sources are arranged so as to surround the referenceaxis in an inclined posture to allow the excitation light of each of theexcitation light sources to travel backward as well as toward thereference axis, and the plurality of light polarizers is arranged closerto the reference axis than the plurality of excitation light sources, aswell as is arranged so as to surround the reference axis, to allow themirror unit of each of the light polarizers to receive an excitationlight from the corresponding one of the plurality of excitation lightsources, as well as to allow the excitation light as a reflected lightfrom the mirror unit to travel to the corresponding one of the pluralityof scan regions.
 11. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7, furthercomprising: a plurality of reflection surfaces provided corresponding tothe plurality of excitation light sources, wherein the optical system,the wavelength converter, and the plurality of light polarizers, arearranged along reference axis, in the order described, the plurality ofexcitation light sources are arranged so as to surround the referenceaxis in an inclined posture to allow the excitation light of each of theexcitation light sources to travel forward as well as toward thereference axis, the plurality of reflection surfaces is arranged closerto the reference axis than the plurality of excitation light sources, aswell as is arranged so as to surround the reference axis in an inclinedposture to allow each of the plurality of reflection surfaces to receivean excitation light from the corresponding one of the plurality ofexcitation light sources, as well as allow the excitation light as areflected light from each of the reflection surfaces to travel backwardas well as toward the reference axis, and the plurality of lightpolarizers is arranged closer to the reference axis than the pluralityof reflection surfaces, as well as is arranged so as to surround thereference axis to allow the mirror unit of each of the light polarizersto receive the excitation light as a reflected light from thecorresponding one of the plurality of reflection surfaces, as well asallow the excitation light as a reflected light from the mirror unit ofeach of the light polarizers, as the excitation light, to travel to thecorresponding one of the plurality of scan regions.
 12. The vehicle lampaccording to claim 7, wherein the optical system is a projection lens,the projection lens being configured to have a plurality of lenses inwhich aberration is corrected to allow an image surface to be flat, andthe wavelength converter is formed in the shape of a flat plate and isarranged along the image surface.
 13. The vehicle lamp according toclaim 7, wherein each of the plurality of light polarizers is configuredas a light polarizer of a uniaxial nonresonant/uniaxial resonant typethat includes the mirror unit, a movable frame that is arranged so as tosurround the mirror unit and that supports the mirror unit so that themirror unit can oscillate around a first shaft, a base that is arrangedso as to surround the movable frame and that supports the movable frameso that the movable frame can oscillate around a second shaft orthogonalto the first shaft, a first piezoelectric actuator that oscillates themirror unit around the first shaft with respect to the movable frame byusing resonant drive, and a second piezoelectric actuator thatoscillates the movable frame and the mirror unit supported by themovable frame, around the second shaft with respect to the base, byusing nonresonant drive, and wherein each of the plurality of lightpolarizers is arranged so that the first shaft is included in a verticalplane and the second shaft is included in a horizontal plane.
 14. Thevehicle lamp according to claim 7, wherein a distance between each ofthe plurality of light polarizers and the wavelength converter isidentical.
 15. The vehicle lamp according to claim 7, wherein a distancebetween each of the plurality of light polarizers and the wavelengthconverter is different from each other.